Margs and Mindset

Hosted by Barlyssa Lopez

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Episodes

155

Latest episode

Sep 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Barlyssa have been taking on life's challenges side by side, discovering what works and what doesn't. We're not just addressing past wounds, but also picking up handy skills and strategies along the way to steer our journey forward. We're convinced that no one should have to pilot through these experiences alone. With a common objective, we pondered the most impactful way to extend out support to women of color tackling generational traumas and experiences in solitude. It turned out that launching a podcast is the best conduit to build a supportive community that engages in raw, real and open dialogues that yield authentic growth. But, add tasty margaritas and some laughs for a good time because a good laugh can overcome more difficulties and dissipates more dark clouds than people realize.

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60 recent

September 30, 2026Episode 1541 hr 11 min

The Insight Room Immersive Retreat

Send us Fan Mail A three-day business retreat sounds like strategy, notebooks, and networking until you’re sitting in a room trying to write what your legacy is and your throat literally hurts from holding the truth back. We’re fresh off the Insight Room Immersion Retreat hosted by Raeanne Lacatena and her team, and we’re processing out loud while it’s still tender, messy, and real. We start with the lead-up: the anxiety dream, the drive in, and the moment we finally ask what our intention is beyond “run the event.” From there we get into nervous system regulation in the most unforgettable way: contrast therapy and a cold plunge that becomes a live lesson in autonomy, safety, and staying with discomfort. That one practice turns into a metaphor for entrepreneurship, leadership, and the constant push to grow without letting fear drive the wheel. Day two brings clarity through a guided morning routine, abundance work, and money story insights that connect personal patterns to business decisions. Then day three flips everything with a business autopsy visualization where we have to imagine our company failing, name why, and sit with what that says about our inner critic. When we turn the page into a three-year vision, the emotions hit again, especially when legacy and representation show up in a room where we’re often the only brown women. If you’re building a business, leading a family, or trying to become your higher self without burning out, press play and sit with us. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs the mindset shift, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

September 23, 2026Episode 15340 min

When Your Home Stops Fitting

Send us Fan Mail Your home can be beautiful and still feel wrong for the life you’re living. We’re talking about what happens when you hit that moment and realize a renovation isn’t really about a brighter bathroom or a new layout, it’s about alignment, identity, and building a space that supports your future self. We share a real-time renovation update from the casita redo, including how a simple shift like a walk-in shower, brighter paint, and cleaner lines can make a space feel bigger without adding a single square foot. But we also keep it honest about the hard part: living in construction, juggling business during the busiest season, and managing the stress of a house that’s temporarily not your safe place. Then the conversation turns into something bigger: the emotional spiral that comes with a renovation estimate and the questions it forces you to answer. Is this a forever home? What does stability mean when you grew up moving every year? How do you spend money with intention instead of impulse? We also tell the story of saying yes to a women’s dinner with strangers, wanting to cancel, setting intentions in the car, and leaving with genuine connection and a “core memory” that reminds us we’re meant to gather. If you’re craving an intentional living reset, thinking about home renovation planning, or trying to build community that actually lights you up, press play. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge to show up, and leave us a review so more people can find the pod. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

September 16, 2026Episode 15250 min

Build A Bigger Plate

Send us Fan Mail Overwhelm is sneaky because it feels like a warning sign, but what if it’s actually proof you’re expanding? We’re coming off a full late-summer pivot into back-to-school routines, and we’re talking candidly about what it looks like to be mom entrepreneurs when life is busy, the business is booming, and the kids still need you in the middle of it all. We break down why this summer finally felt different: better planning, clearer priorities, and the freedom that comes with full-time entrepreneurship after leaving corporate life. We also get real about identity shifts, the weird emotional whiplash of seasonal transitions, and how time blocking can turn “I have no time” into “I can make this work.” Then we share a wild five-day stretch of back-to-back parties, flights, family celebrations, and actual rest, plus the mindset and systems that made it feel doable. The biggest takeaway is a reframe our coach gave us that hit like a switch: instead of calling it overwhelm, call it capacity building. If your plate feels too full and you don’t actually want to give up what’s on it, you might not need less, you might need a bigger plate. If you’re navigating parenting, business growth, routines, stress, and ambition all at once, this conversation is your reminder that you’re not alone and you’re not broken, you’re building. If this resonates, subscribe, share it with a friend who’s in the thick of it, and leave a review so more women can find the mindset tools that change everything. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

September 9, 2026Episode 15137 min

Chosen Chaos

Send us Fan Mail A weekend can be “too much” or it can be proof of what you’re capable of and we’re living that in real time. We’re heading into a first for us: back-to-back events, flipping our space at Slate, grabbing the kids and suitcases, then getting on a plane and landing close to 10 p.m. with a party start time of 9 a.m. the next morning. It’s four parties in three days, plus travel, plus parenting, and we’re not pretending it’s calm. We are saying it’s chosen. We unpack the mindset behind thriving in chaos as small business owners in the event planning world. When you admit you create your own chaos, you can take accountability, set boundaries, and build a plan that actually supports you. We talk about preparedness, focusing on the two things in your hands instead of all 800, and how compartmentalization can be a powerful tool when you use it with awareness. We also reflect on the difference between forced “clopen” shifts from hospitality and the kind of intense turnaround you’ll happily do when it’s by your design. Then we shift into seasons, transitions, and home life: why we’re starting to plan by quarters and seasons instead of chasing a linear calendar. That leads straight into a major life upgrade, a professional home renovation we’ve been planning for months. We share the reality check of demo day, the nerves fueled by other people’s horror stories, and the relief of trusting a team that can hold our creativity and keep the process grounded. If you’re juggling events, family, travel, and big life projects, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share it with a friend who lives in organized chaos, and leave a review so more people can find Marks And Mindset Podcast. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

August 26, 2026Episode 15030 min

150 Episodes Deep

Send us Fan Mail THIS ONE COMES WITH A GIVEAWAY!! 150 episodes sounds like a milestone, but for us it feels like evidence. Evidence that you can start shaky, say yes before you feel ready, and build real confidence by showing up anyway. We’re celebrating with a fancy margarita and a lot of gratitude, then pulling back the curtain on what 150 weeks of consistency has taught us about entrepreneurship, mindset, and the long game. We get honest about imposter syndrome, especially the kind that shows up when you look at podcast stats, business numbers, or audience size and wonder if it’s “enough.” Our answer is simple: loyal listeners matter, quality over quantity matters, and the fact that you keep returning is the whole reason we keep bringing the real stuff. That mindset shift changes how we measure success and how we keep going when growth feels slow. Then we go deeper into vulnerability and the moment Barb realized what it means to “take the armor off” by saying the hard thing out loud. We connect that to the core theme of Marks and Mindset: tiny micro shifts in thought can change your reactions, your relationships, and your entire life. We also talk practical tools like meditation and exercise, not as trendy wellness hacks, but as basic, repeatable practices that help you build a healthier mind so your reality can actually shift. We’re also doing a giveaway to celebrate you. Listen, then head to our Instagram and comment the word “margarita” on the reel to enter. If this hit home, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a mindset reset, and leave us a review so more people can find the show. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

August 21, 2026Episode 14923 min

We Create Core Memories

Send us Fan Mail A one margarita limit, a grown-up friend dinner, and a five-year business glow-up all lead to the same question: what changes when you finally let yourself become the person you’re building? We’re reflecting on how Homemade Events ROC didn’t just give us a career in event planning, it gave us community, adult friendships, and a new way to measure a “successful” life through memories instead of milestones on a resume. We share the real origin story behind our service-based business, including how we didn’t even choose entrepreneurship at first. Someone saw our gift, pushed an opportunity our way, and that single yes turned into parties, systems, an LLC, and the slow confidence it takes to say out loud, “I’m an entrepreneur.” If you’re searching for small business motivation, women entrepreneur stories, or what it’s like building an event planning business in Rochester NY, this conversation is packed with honest perspective. We also get into the standard we hold when we’re trusted with once-in-a-lifetime moments, from first birthdays to 50th birthdays. Planning doesn’t have to be boring, celebrating yourself matters, and the best client experience is built on care and consistency. If you’ve ever felt like your job had no purpose, this will hit. Subscribe, share this with a friend building something, and leave a review so more people can find the show and join the community. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

August 12, 2026Episode 14850 min

Daily Glimmers with Sarah Joy

Send us Fan Mail A tiny moment can change the temperature of an entire day and you do not have to pretend everything is fine to feel it. We’re joined by Sarah Shellard, founder of Just Joyful Boutique and creator of the Daily Glimmers Gratitude Journal, for a grounded conversation about joy as a practice, not a performance. Sarah also runs Joy Speech Language Pathology, so we get a rare look at how a service-based career and a product-based business can feed each other without draining your nervous system. We talk candidly about burnout in helping professions, why “just list three things you’re grateful for” can feel empty, and how glimmers offer a more honest path. Glimmers are tiny, unplanned moments of joy that can exist alongside stress, grief, and frustration. Sarah shares how her journal uses rotating prompts, emotion check-ins, goals, and reflective “glimmer missions” to keep people engaged and to make gratitude journaling feel doable instead of repetitive. We also touch on the polyvagal roots of the term, her care in avoiding toxic positivity, and why resilience is often built in small, consistent reps. Then we zoom out to entrepreneurship: messy action, habit-building tips you can actually use, and what it looks like to set SMART goals and reevaluate them quarterly as you grow. Sarah also opens up about her next expansion moves, from wholesale distribution to hospital gift shops, and the values behind wanting big-box buyers to carry the product. If you’re into gratitude journaling, mindset shifts, nervous system regulation, or building a values-led small business, you’ll leave with practical ideas and a calmer perspective. If this conversation hits home, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a glimmer, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

August 5, 2026Episode 14732 min

Pour Into Yourself

Send us Fan Mail Your stomach hurts, your calendar is full, and the old version of you would still push through because “that’s what high performers do.” We start there and trace how one small decision to honor the body opens up a much bigger conversation about mindset, self-trust, and sustainable success. If you’re tired of living by a ruminating to-do list, this one will feel like a deep exhale. We unpack what it means to be incredible at checking boxes while still forgetting to check in with yourself. Awareness becomes the hinge point: noticing how we feel, asking better questions in the morning, and separating what our brain wants from what our body can actually handle. Along the way, we connect the dots between gentle self-leadership, habit change, and why self-care is not another task to “get done” but a way to live. Then we get practical about entrepreneurship and small business growth. We share how a difficult Q2 forced a deep dive into our operations, why outgrowing your systems is a sign your business is working, and how leaning on mentors and community helps you stop spiraling. The unexpected takeaway: when we release pressure, scarcity, and desperation, the business starts “businessing” again and abundance has room to show up. If you know you’re ready for a new emotional base camp, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s been pushing too hard, and leave a review so more business owners can find these conversations. What’s one way you can honor yourself today? Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

July 29, 2026Episode 14638 min

The Real Entrepreneur Life with Erika Sorbello

Send us Fan Mail You can hit a lifelong goal and still feel completely wiped out. That’s the honest thread running through our conversation with Erika Sorbello, owner of Gallery Salon in Rochester, New York, who’s back on the mic with us after a huge shift: she officially moved into a custom-painted space at One Public Market and purchased the building she’d been chasing for years. It’s a milestone that screams success, but the reality is more layered, more human, and a lot more useful than a highlight reel. We talk through the seven-year path to commercial building ownership, the last-minute change in her search that made the right property appear, and the whirlwind negotiation that followed. From there, the conversation turns to what happens after the keys are yours: the endless to-do list, the pressure of being both stylist and employer, and the behind-the-scenes work of maintaining a thriving salon business while trying to protect your time, relationships, and nervous system. We also get real about team turnover and the modern salon industry shift toward suites and solo entrepreneurship. Erika shares why employees leaving can feel like grief, how exit interviews help her lead with more clarity, and why she still chooses mentorship even when it hurts. If you care about leadership, entrepreneurship, small business growth, and building culture that lasts, this one will stay with you. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review with the moment that hit you hardest. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

July 22, 2026Episode 14534 min

When A Penguin Turns Into An Owl

Send us Fan Mail A dream starts with penguins in a parking lot, then flips into owls the moment you get closer and months later an intuitive massage therapist describes the exact same penguin-to-owl vision without any context. We sit with that mind-blowing “how could she know that?” moment and unpack what it reveals about intuition, healing, and the kind of connection that doesn’t fit inside a neat logical box. If you love dream interpretation, symbolism, and personal growth stories that feel real, this one hits. We also keep it grounded in everyday life: summer entrepreneur schedules that ignore routine, swapping margaritas for water, and the truth that showing up messy still counts. Birthday week brings its own identity questions, like wondering if your spark disappeared and realizing it might just need an everything shower, a little self-care, and permission to celebrate again. We talk authenticity, Leo energy, and why confidence can be a mirror that helps other people feel safer being themselves. Then we go deeper into meaning making: tattoos as intentional milestones, not random decisions, and how honoring past versions of yourself builds a stronger foundation for who you’re becoming. We land on a clear intention for the year, choosing joy and releasing anger and sadness without waiting for life to fall apart again. If you’re navigating healing, aging, community, and mindset work, you’ll leave with language for what you’re feeling and a push to claim what you want next. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs more joy, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Music Track: Building Dreams by Aylex Source: https://freetouse.com/music Copyright Free Background Music

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