Your Best Friends in Business en © Copyright 2026 Stacie & Madie. All Rights Reserved. What happens when two best friends who’ve built multiple businesses together decide to stop keeping the good stuff to themselves? Join co-founders Stacie Staub and Madie Linder — the team behind West and Main Homes and a growing roster of businesses they’ve built from scratch — for the kind of conversations most founders only have behind closed doors. Each episode opens with a real-time business update (the wins, the chaos, the things that are very much still in progress), then brings in a founder who’s building for the long game for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the decisions that actually shaped their company. Part strategy, part survival guide, and entirely the kind of conversation most business owners desperately need, Your Best Friends in Business blends candid interviews, opinionated debates about what works and what definitely doesn’t, and the kind of practical takeaways that only come from people who are still in it. No TED Talk polish. No highlight reel. Just real founders, real decisions, and real talk. Come for the strategies. Stay for the honesty. Leave with a reminder that there’s no perfect way to build a business so just build it! https://megaphone.imgix.net/podcasts/4e91da24-6ff0-11f1-845c-8724c630d84c/image/49c72454ac3e8326820708358d9914a5.png?ixlib=rails-4.3.1&max-w=3000&max-h=3000&fit=crop&auto=format,compress Your Best Friends in Business episodic Stacie & Madie | Pod People What happens when two best friends who’ve built multiple businesses together decide to stop keeping the good stuff to themselves? Join co-founders Stacie Staub and Madie Linder — the team behind West and Main Homes and a growing roster of businesses they’ve built from scratch — for the kind of conversations most founders only have behind closed doors. Each episode opens with a real-time business update (the wins, the chaos, the things that are very much still in progress), then brings in a founder who’s building for the long game for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the decisions that actually shaped their company. Part strategy, part survival guide, and entirely the kind of conversation most business owners desperately need, Your Best Friends in Business blends candid interviews, opinionated debates about what works and what definitely doesn’t, and the kind of practical takeaways that only come from people who are still in it. No TED Talk polish. No highlight reel. Just real founders, real decisions, and real talk. Come for the strategies. Stay for the honesty. Leave with a reminder that there’s no perfect way to build a business so just build it! What happens when two best friends who’ve built multiple businesses together decide to stop keeping the good stuff to themselves?

Join co-founders Stacie Staub and Madie Linder — the team behind West and Main Homes and a growing roster of businesses they’ve built from scratch — for the kind of conversations most founders only have behind closed doors. Each episode opens with a real-time business update (the wins, the chaos, the things that are very much still in progress), then brings in a founder who’s building for the long game for an honest, unfiltered conversation about the decisions that actually shaped their company.

Part strategy, part survival guide, and entirely the kind of conversation most business owners desperately need, Your Best Friends in Business blends candid interviews, opinionated debates about what works and what definitely doesn’t, and the kind of practical takeaways that only come from people who are still in it.

No TED Talk polish. No highlight reel. Just real founders, real decisions, and real talk.

Come for the strategies. Stay for the honesty. Leave with a reminder that there’s no perfect way to build a business so just build it!

]]> Stacie & Madie | Pod People production@podpeople.com Getting to Know You with Madie and Stacie No guest this week … just two best friends, nine months of business partnership, and a producer-designed game show built to test it all. To close out Season 1, Madie and Stacie turn the mic on themselves, going head-to-head in the Newlywed Game, Would You Rather, and a Guess That Guest trivia round pulled from quotes across the season. Along the way, they land on the real stuff: honesty over niceness in a partnership, why they'd always choose a loyal employee over a big client, growing "twice as sustainable" instead of twice as fast, and the zero-door, zero-budget, no-Plan-B mentality that built West + Main Homes from the ground up. Plus, the loser has to work a hostess shift at their new restaurant—and the winner gets to name the first flavor of "Big Cookie." It's a lighthearted, unfiltered look at what actually makes a business partnership work, and a proper send-off to a season full of incredible founders. In this episode: (00:00) Show Intro: Trivia Showdown (02:54) Round 1: Newlywed Game (11:33) Round 2: Would You Rather (14:25) Clients vs Unicorn Employees (24:25) Round 3: Guess the Guest  (27:20) Winner Announced: Big Cookie Reveal Show Notes: Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected: Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠ Wed, 30 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0000 full 1 10 Stacie & Madie | Pod People No guest this week … just two best friends, nine months of business partnership, and a producer-designed game show built to test it all. To close out Season 1, Madie and Stacie turn the mic on themselves, going head-to-head in the Newlywed Game, Would You Rather, and a Guess That Guest trivia round pulled from quotes across the season. Along the way, they land on the real stuff: honesty over niceness in a partnership, why they'd always choose a loyal employee over a big client, growing "twice as sustainable" instead of twice as fast, and the zero-door, zero-budget, no-Plan-B mentality that built West + Main Homes from the ground up. Plus, the loser has to work a hostess shift at their new restaurant—and the winner gets to name the first flavor of "Big Cookie." It's a lighthearted, unfiltered look at what actually makes a business partnership work, and a proper send-off to a season full of incredible founders. In this episode: (00:00) Show Intro: Trivia Showdown (02:54) Round 1: Newlywed Game (11:33) Round 2: Would You Rather (14:25) Clients vs Unicorn Employees (24:25) Round 3: Guess the Guest  (27:20) Winner Announced: Big Cookie Reveal Show Notes: Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected: Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠ No guest this week … just two best friends, nine months of business partnership, and a producer-designed game show built to test it all. To close out Season 1, Madie and Stacie turn the mic on themselves, going head-to-head in the Newlywed Game, Would You Rather, and a Guess That Guest trivia round pulled from quotes across the season.

Along the way, they land on the real stuff: honesty over niceness in a partnership, why they'd always choose a loyal employee over a big client, growing "twice as sustainable" instead of twice as fast, and the zero-door, zero-budget, no-Plan-B mentality that built West + Main Homes from the ground up. Plus, the loser has to work a hostess shift at their new restaurant—and the winner gets to name the first flavor of "Big Cookie."

It's a lighthearted, unfiltered look at what actually makes a business partnership work, and a proper send-off to a season full of incredible founders.


In this episode:

(00:00) Show Intro: Trivia Showdown

(02:54) Round 1: Newlywed Game

(11:33) Round 2: Would You Rather

(14:25) Clients vs Unicorn Employees

(24:25) Round 3: Guess the Guest 

(27:20) Winner Announced: Big Cookie Reveal


Show Notes:

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected:

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 1854 no From Cop Car to Building (and Selling) Breakthrough Broker with Eric Sachs Eric Sachs spent 13 years as a Fort Collins police detective before trading his badge for a real estate license — and eventually building two companies he'd go on to sell. First came Infinity Group Realty, which he and his best friend grew to 40+ agents before an acquisition in 2010. Then came the real story: Breakthrough Broker, a free tool for real estate agents funded not by users but by industry partners, bootstrapped with Eric's police pension and grown to over 650,000 agent profiles before its own acquisition. In this episode, Eric opens up about turning down VC money, going through three failed acquisition talks before the one that stuck, why hiring the right acquisition attorney was the best money he ever spent, and how being "not desperate" to sell ended up being exactly what got the deal done. Plus: what 13 years in law enforcement taught him about trust, sales, and keeping perspective when the stakes in business just aren't life or death. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:54) Group Chat Catch Up (02:50) Meet Eric: The First Exit (06:31) Building Breakthrough Broker (22:34) Founder to Founder: Cop Lessons (29:55) Mantra of the Week: My Daughter Hears This Often Show Notes:  Eric Sachs Follow Eric Sachs on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:00:00 -0000 full 1 9 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Eric Sachs spent 13 years as a Fort Collins police detective before trading his badge for a real estate license — and eventually building two companies he'd go on to sell. First came Infinity Group Realty, which he and his best friend grew to 40+ agents before an acquisition in 2010. Then came the real story: Breakthrough Broker, a free tool for real estate agents funded not by users but by industry partners, bootstrapped with Eric's police pension and grown to over 650,000 agent profiles before its own acquisition. In this episode, Eric opens up about turning down VC money, going through three failed acquisition talks before the one that stuck, why hiring the right acquisition attorney was the best money he ever spent, and how being "not desperate" to sell ended up being exactly what got the deal done. Plus: what 13 years in law enforcement taught him about trust, sales, and keeping perspective when the stakes in business just aren't life or death. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:54) Group Chat Catch Up (02:50) Meet Eric: The First Exit (06:31) Building Breakthrough Broker (22:34) Founder to Founder: Cop Lessons (29:55) Mantra of the Week: My Daughter Hears This Often Show Notes:  Eric Sachs Follow Eric Sachs on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Eric Sachs spent 13 years as a Fort Collins police detective before trading his badge for a real estate license — and eventually building two companies he'd go on to sell. First came Infinity Group Realty, which he and his best friend grew to 40+ agents before an acquisition in 2010. Then came the real story: Breakthrough Broker, a free tool for real estate agents funded not by users but by industry partners, bootstrapped with Eric's police pension and grown to over 650,000 agent profiles before its own acquisition.

In this episode, Eric opens up about turning down VC money, going through three failed acquisition talks before the one that stuck, why hiring the right acquisition attorney was the best money he ever spent, and how being "not desperate" to sell ended up being exactly what got the deal done. Plus: what 13 years in law enforcement taught him about trust, sales, and keeping perspective when the stakes in business just aren't life or death.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:54) Group Chat Catch Up

(02:50) Meet Eric: The First Exit

(06:31) Building Breakthrough Broker

(22:34) Founder to Founder: Cop Lessons

(29:55) Mantra of the Week: My Daughter Hears This Often


Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 2391 no Teaching Money to Generations with Mike Michalowicz By 35, Mike Michalowicz had built and sold two multimillion-dollar companies. He became an angel investor with his winnings—and lost everything. Out of that collapse came Profit First, one of the most widely used small business money systems in the world, followed by a string of bestsellers (The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, Fix This Next, Get Different). His newest book, The Money Habit, takes that same thinking and points it at personal finances instead of business ones. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder talk with Mike about "entrepreneurial poverty," the behavioral trick that fixed his own money habits, why every business has one weak link worth finding, and the mindset shift behind teaching what you most need to learn. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:54) Group Chat Catch Up (02:51) Meet Mike: Explains Profit First (18:47) Bank Level Profit First (25:30) Founder to Founder: Money Truths And Weak Links (34:37) Mantra of the Week: Favorite Oscar Wilde Quote Show Notes:  Mike Michalowicz  Follow Mike Michalowicz on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Wed, 02 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full 1 8 Stacie & Madie | Pod People By 35, Mike Michalowicz had built and sold two multimillion-dollar companies. He became an angel investor with his winnings—and lost everything. Out of that collapse came Profit First, one of the most widely used small business money systems in the world, followed by a string of bestsellers (The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, Fix This Next, Get Different). His newest book, The Money Habit, takes that same thinking and points it at personal finances instead of business ones. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder talk with Mike about "entrepreneurial poverty," the behavioral trick that fixed his own money habits, why every business has one weak link worth finding, and the mindset shift behind teaching what you most need to learn. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:54) Group Chat Catch Up (02:51) Meet Mike: Explains Profit First (18:47) Bank Level Profit First (25:30) Founder to Founder: Money Truths And Weak Links (34:37) Mantra of the Week: Favorite Oscar Wilde Quote Show Notes:  Mike Michalowicz  Follow Mike Michalowicz on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  By 35, Mike Michalowicz had built and sold two multimillion-dollar companies. He became an angel investor with his winnings—and lost everything. Out of that collapse came Profit First, one of the most widely used small business money systems in the world, followed by a string of bestsellers (The Pumpkin Plan, Clockwork, Fix This Next, Get Different). His newest book, The Money Habit, takes that same thinking and points it at personal finances instead of business ones.

Stacie Staub and Madie Linder talk with Mike about "entrepreneurial poverty," the behavioral trick that fixed his own money habits, why every business has one weak link worth finding, and the mindset shift behind teaching what you most need to learn.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:54) Group Chat Catch Up

(02:51) Meet Mike: Explains Profit First

(18:47) Bank Level Profit First

(25:30) Founder to Founder: Money Truths And Weak Links

(34:37) Mantra of the Week: Favorite Oscar Wilde Quote


Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 2311 no The Accidental Celebrity Who Reinvented Real Estate with Marguerite Martin Marguerite Martin has sold homes in Tacoma since 2005, but in 2015 she started a side project (a blog and podcast called Move to Tacoma) just to give people an honest, neighborhood-level look at a city most outsiders didn't know much about. That side project turned her into a local celebrity (and, at times, the accidental face of Tacoma's gentrification debate), and it changed how she thought about her own job. Instead of trying to do every deal herself, she became a matchmaker — connecting buyers and sellers with the right agent for their goals. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder talk with Marguerite about identifying (and saying no to) your ideal client, why AI search is the new SEO, and the mindset shift behind building a business that supports your life instead of running it. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:53) Group Chat Catch Up (03:16) Meet Marguerite: She Reinvents Real Estate (15:46) Founder to Founder: Referral Fit and Niches (25:30) AI Search and Values (28:48) Mantra of the Week: Document Your Story Show Notes:  Marguerite Martin  Follow Marguerite Martin on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Wed, 19 Aug 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full 1 7 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Marguerite Martin has sold homes in Tacoma since 2005, but in 2015 she started a side project (a blog and podcast called Move to Tacoma) just to give people an honest, neighborhood-level look at a city most outsiders didn't know much about. That side project turned her into a local celebrity (and, at times, the accidental face of Tacoma's gentrification debate), and it changed how she thought about her own job. Instead of trying to do every deal herself, she became a matchmaker — connecting buyers and sellers with the right agent for their goals. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder talk with Marguerite about identifying (and saying no to) your ideal client, why AI search is the new SEO, and the mindset shift behind building a business that supports your life instead of running it. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:53) Group Chat Catch Up (03:16) Meet Marguerite: She Reinvents Real Estate (15:46) Founder to Founder: Referral Fit and Niches (25:30) AI Search and Values (28:48) Mantra of the Week: Document Your Story Show Notes:  Marguerite Martin  Follow Marguerite Martin on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Marguerite Martin has sold homes in Tacoma since 2005, but in 2015 she started a side project (a blog and podcast called Move to Tacoma) just to give people an honest, neighborhood-level look at a city most outsiders didn't know much about. That side project turned her into a local celebrity (and, at times, the accidental face of Tacoma's gentrification debate), and it changed how she thought about her own job. Instead of trying to do every deal herself, she became a matchmaker — connecting buyers and sellers with the right agent for their goals.

Stacie Staub and Madie Linder talk with Marguerite about identifying (and saying no to) your ideal client, why AI search is the new SEO, and the mindset shift behind building a business that supports your life instead of running it.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:53) Group Chat Catch Up

(03:16) Meet Marguerite: She Reinvents Real Estate

(15:46) Founder to Founder: Referral Fit and Niches

(25:30) AI Search and Values

(28:48) Mantra of the Week: Document Your Story


Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 1951 no Building It, Growing It, and Letting It Go with Jen Jasinski Jen Jasinski trained under Wolfgang Puck, opened Rioja in Denver's Larimer Square in 2004, and spent the next 20 years building a five-concept restaurant group with business partner Beth Gruitch. This led to them earning a James Beard Award and a Top Chef Masters title along the way.  Then, right as Rioja established itself as a staple the same year it turned 20, she and Beth did something founders rarely do: they stepped back. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Jen to talk about building a 26-year business partnership, the real economics of running a restaurant right now, and why she never wanted a luxurious expansion plan when having to walk away from two of her own restaurants. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Coffee Shop to Restaurant Chaos (02:59) Meet Jen Jasinski and Rioja Origins (12:13) Partnership Lanes and Smart Growth (19:05) Euclid Hall Memories (20:42) Founder Lessons and Denver Economics (27:09) Scaling Back and Staying Curious (32:32) Mantra of the week Show Notes:  Jen Jasinski Follow Jen Jasinski on Instagram  Follow Rioja on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Wed, 12 Aug 2026 17:18:00 -0000 full 1 6 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Jen Jasinski trained under Wolfgang Puck, opened Rioja in Denver's Larimer Square in 2004, and spent the next 20 years building a five-concept restaurant group with business partner Beth Gruitch. This led to them earning a James Beard Award and a Top Chef Masters title along the way.  Then, right as Rioja established itself as a staple the same year it turned 20, she and Beth did something founders rarely do: they stepped back. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Jen to talk about building a 26-year business partnership, the real economics of running a restaurant right now, and why she never wanted a luxurious expansion plan when having to walk away from two of her own restaurants. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Coffee Shop to Restaurant Chaos (02:59) Meet Jen Jasinski and Rioja Origins (12:13) Partnership Lanes and Smart Growth (19:05) Euclid Hall Memories (20:42) Founder Lessons and Denver Economics (27:09) Scaling Back and Staying Curious (32:32) Mantra of the week Show Notes:  Jen Jasinski Follow Jen Jasinski on Instagram  Follow Rioja on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Jen Jasinski trained under Wolfgang Puck, opened Rioja in Denver's Larimer Square in 2004, and spent the next 20 years building a five-concept restaurant group with business partner Beth Gruitch. This led to them earning a James Beard Award and a Top Chef Masters title along the way. 

Then, right as Rioja established itself as a staple the same year it turned 20, she and Beth did something founders rarely do: they stepped back.

Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Jen to talk about building a 26-year business partnership, the real economics of running a restaurant right now, and why she never wanted a luxurious expansion plan when having to walk away from two of her own restaurants.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:52) Coffee Shop to Restaurant Chaos

(02:59) Meet Jen Jasinski and Rioja Origins

(12:13) Partnership Lanes and Smart Growth

(19:05) Euclid Hall Memories

(20:42) Founder Lessons and Denver Economics

(27:09) Scaling Back and Staying Curious

(32:32) Mantra of the week


Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 2083 yes Everybody Deserves Something Beautiful with Sarah Ortega Sarah Ortega grew up behind the counter at her mother's Albuquerque jewelry boutique, watching her mom sell out of a literal shoebox at swim meets. She opened her own small shop on Tennyson Street in Denver in 2006 with $800 and no inventory budget, and has since built Sarah O. Jewelry into two showrooms, a global online community, and a brand built on the idea that everyone deserves to feel seen. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Sarah to talk about the hard decision to close her first store to focus on what she really loved, watching Tennyson Street change around her, and the moment one of her pieces landed on the red carpet at the Oscars. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Group Chat Catch Up (02:57) Meet Sarah of Sarah O Jewelry  (25:16) Founder to Founder: Lab-Grown Diamonds  (38:10) The Sarah O Announcement  (41:31) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  Follow Sarah O. Jewelry on Instagram Sarah O. Jewelry Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠ Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:41:00 -0000 full 1 5 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Sarah Ortega grew up behind the counter at her mother's Albuquerque jewelry boutique, watching her mom sell out of a literal shoebox at swim meets. She opened her own small shop on Tennyson Street in Denver in 2006 with $800 and no inventory budget, and has since built Sarah O. Jewelry into two showrooms, a global online community, and a brand built on the idea that everyone deserves to feel seen. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Sarah to talk about the hard decision to close her first store to focus on what she really loved, watching Tennyson Street change around her, and the moment one of her pieces landed on the red carpet at the Oscars. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Group Chat Catch Up (02:57) Meet Sarah of Sarah O Jewelry  (25:16) Founder to Founder: Lab-Grown Diamonds  (38:10) The Sarah O Announcement  (41:31) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  Follow Sarah O. Jewelry on Instagram Sarah O. Jewelry Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠ Sarah Ortega grew up behind the counter at her mother's Albuquerque jewelry boutique, watching her mom sell out of a literal shoebox at swim meets. She opened her own small shop on Tennyson Street in Denver in 2006 with $800 and no inventory budget, and has since built Sarah O. Jewelry into two showrooms, a global online community, and a brand built on the idea that everyone deserves to feel seen.

Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Sarah to talk about the hard decision to close her first store to focus on what she really loved, watching Tennyson Street change around her, and the moment one of her pieces landed on the red carpet at the Oscars.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:52) Group Chat Catch Up

(02:57) Meet Sarah of Sarah O Jewelry 

(25:16) Founder to Founder: Lab-Grown Diamonds 

(38:10) The Sarah O Announcement 

(41:31) Mantra of the Week


Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People

Stay Connected: 

]]> 2691 3,000 Women and The One Question That Started It All with Mercy Tucker Mercy Tucker co-founded Project I See You in 2009 with a counselor's instinct and a farmer's work ethic. Seventeen years later, the organization has supported thousands of women in the Dominican Republic and Denver, launching the Shared Power Initiative to help women become first-time homeowners and business owners. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Mercy, the only nonprofit founder featured in Season One, to talk about what happens when you stop asking "how can I help" and start asking "what do you need," how the organization's grants work with almost no red tape, and why she believes real change means sharing power, not just handing out checks. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Group Chat Catch Up (03:18) Meet Mercy: Investing In Women (19:15) Generational Wealth is the Key  (22:09) Founder to Founder: Supporting without Marketing  (42:48) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  ⁠Project I See You  Follow Project I See You on Instagram Don't miss an episode! Subscribe or Follow @ Your Best Friends in Business: Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Follow Your Best Friends In Business on Instagram Follow Stacie and Madie on Instagram ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠  Wed, 29 Jul 2026 15:35:00 -0000 full 1 4 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Mercy Tucker co-founded Project I See You in 2009 with a counselor's instinct and a farmer's work ethic. Seventeen years later, the organization has supported thousands of women in the Dominican Republic and Denver, launching the Shared Power Initiative to help women become first-time homeowners and business owners. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Mercy, the only nonprofit founder featured in Season One, to talk about what happens when you stop asking "how can I help" and start asking "what do you need," how the organization's grants work with almost no red tape, and why she believes real change means sharing power, not just handing out checks. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Group Chat Catch Up (03:18) Meet Mercy: Investing In Women (19:15) Generational Wealth is the Key  (22:09) Founder to Founder: Supporting without Marketing  (42:48) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  ⁠Project I See You  Follow Project I See You on Instagram Don't miss an episode! Subscribe or Follow @ Your Best Friends in Business: Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Follow Your Best Friends In Business on Instagram Follow Stacie and Madie on Instagram ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠  Mercy Tucker co-founded Project I See You in 2009 with a counselor's instinct and a farmer's work ethic. Seventeen years later, the organization has supported thousands of women in the Dominican Republic and Denver, launching the Shared Power Initiative to help women become first-time homeowners and business owners.

Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Mercy, the only nonprofit founder featured in Season One, to talk about what happens when you stop asking "how can I help" and start asking "what do you need," how the organization's grants work with almost no red tape, and why she believes real change means sharing power, not just handing out checks.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:52) Group Chat Catch Up

(03:18) Meet Mercy: Investing In Women

(19:15) Generational Wealth is the Key 

(22:09) Founder to Founder: Supporting without Marketing 

(42:48) Mantra of the Week


Show Notes: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe or Follow @ Your Best Friends in Business:

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

]]> 2679 Say Yes First Then Figure Out the Rest with Rachael King Rachael King was a podcast obsessive before most brands even knew what a podcast was. In 2017, she shut down her PR firm, bet on a hunch, and launched Pod People, a content studio that now produces award-winning shows for Netflix, Vogue, Marvel, CNN, and more. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Rachael to talk about building a company solo before finding the right co-founder, why she still won't touch the bookkeeping, and what it really takes to convince the world's biggest brands that podcasting is the best format to share their story and reach their audience. They also dig into how AI is reshaping podcast discovery, and where Rachael draws the line on which clients she'll take. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:54) Group Chat Catch Up (02:40) Meet Rachael: Starting From Her Origin Story (17:13) Co-Founder Lanes and Growth (28:01) Branded Podcasts That Convert (37:36) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  Follow ⁠Pod People on Instagram ⁠Pod People⁠⁠  Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Wed, 22 Jul 2026 15:54:00 -0000 full 1 3 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Rachael King was a podcast obsessive before most brands even knew what a podcast was. In 2017, she shut down her PR firm, bet on a hunch, and launched Pod People, a content studio that now produces award-winning shows for Netflix, Vogue, Marvel, CNN, and more. Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Rachael to talk about building a company solo before finding the right co-founder, why she still won't touch the bookkeeping, and what it really takes to convince the world's biggest brands that podcasting is the best format to share their story and reach their audience. They also dig into how AI is reshaping podcast discovery, and where Rachael draws the line on which clients she'll take. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:54) Group Chat Catch Up (02:40) Meet Rachael: Starting From Her Origin Story (17:13) Co-Founder Lanes and Growth (28:01) Branded Podcasts That Convert (37:36) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  Follow ⁠Pod People on Instagram ⁠Pod People⁠⁠  Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Rachael King was a podcast obsessive before most brands even knew what a podcast was. In 2017, she shut down her PR firm, bet on a hunch, and launched Pod People, a content studio that now produces award-winning shows for Netflix, Vogue, Marvel, CNN, and more.

Stacie Staub and Madie Linder sit down with Rachael to talk about building a company solo before finding the right co-founder, why she still won't touch the bookkeeping, and what it really takes to convince the world's biggest brands that podcasting is the best format to share their story and reach their audience. They also dig into how AI is reshaping podcast discovery, and where Rachael draws the line on which clients she'll take.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:54) Group Chat Catch Up

(02:40) Meet Rachael: Starting From Her Origin Story

(17:13) Co-Founder Lanes and Growth

(28:01) Branded Podcasts That Convert

(37:36) Mantra of the Week

Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 2515 no From Bark to Business with Meg Meyer What happens when you say yes to a Publix deal and have absolutely no idea how to fulfill it? Meg Meyer, founder of The Bear & the Rat, built a dog ice cream brand the hard way: dog parks, Shark Tank, and a whole lot of frozen logistics nightmares.  Now, she's been in it for 17 years with her husband, and she's not here to make it look easy. This is what building for the long game actually looks like. She’ll discuss the bets that paid off, the ones that didn't, and the moments you just have to laugh at later.  Stacie Staub and Madi Linder sit down with real founders making real decisions, and Meg is one of the best (and first one!) yet. In this episode: (00:00) Show Intro (00:56) Group Chat Catch Up (03:46) Meet Meg Meyer: Her Origin Story (23:51) Shelf Stable Dog Meals/Publix Story (27:08) Shark Tank Secrets (43:00) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  The Bear & the Rat Follow The Bear & the Rat on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full 1 1 Stacie & Madie | Pod People What happens when you say yes to a Publix deal and have absolutely no idea how to fulfill it? Meg Meyer, founder of The Bear & the Rat, built a dog ice cream brand the hard way: dog parks, Shark Tank, and a whole lot of frozen logistics nightmares.  Now, she's been in it for 17 years with her husband, and she's not here to make it look easy. This is what building for the long game actually looks like. She’ll discuss the bets that paid off, the ones that didn't, and the moments you just have to laugh at later.  Stacie Staub and Madi Linder sit down with real founders making real decisions, and Meg is one of the best (and first one!) yet. In this episode: (00:00) Show Intro (00:56) Group Chat Catch Up (03:46) Meet Meg Meyer: Her Origin Story (23:51) Shelf Stable Dog Meals/Publix Story (27:08) Shark Tank Secrets (43:00) Mantra of the Week Show Notes:  The Bear & the Rat Follow The Bear & the Rat on Instagram Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠  What happens when you say yes to a Publix deal and have absolutely no idea how to fulfill it? Meg Meyer, founder of The Bear & the Rat, built a dog ice cream brand the hard way: dog parks, Shark Tank, and a whole lot of frozen logistics nightmares. 

Now, she's been in it for 17 years with her husband, and she's not here to make it look easy. This is what building for the long game actually looks like. She’ll discuss the bets that paid off, the ones that didn't, and the moments you just have to laugh at later. 

Stacie Staub and Madi Linder sit down with real founders making real decisions, and Meg is one of the best (and first one!) yet.


In this episode:

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:56) Group Chat Catch Up

(03:46) Meet Meg Meyer: Her Origin Story

(23:51) Shelf Stable Dog Meals/Publix Story

(27:08) Shark Tank Secrets

(43:00) Mantra of the Week


Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 2705 no Earning Authority in the Age of AI with Molly McKinley Molly McKinley has launched craft kits, pitched Oprah, built a marketing consultancy, and made just about every partnership mistake there is to make along the way. Now she's using AI as her editor, teaching the next generation of women entrepreneurs at Meredith College, and reviving a decades-old dream of a tea house she once put on ice. Stacie Staub and Madi Linder sit down with Molly to talk about the messy realities of business partnerships, how to build real authority instead of gaming the algorithm, and why "done is better than perfect" still applies even when AI can do the work for you. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Group Chat Catch Up (03:09) Meet Molly: Partnerships and AI (22:06) Using AI Tools and Intentions (25:26) Teaching AI Ethics (38:41) Manta of the Week Show Notes:  Molly McKinley Meredith College Entrepreneurship and Impact Center Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠ Wed, 15 Jul 2026 08:00:00 -0000 full 1 2 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Molly McKinley has launched craft kits, pitched Oprah, built a marketing consultancy, and made just about every partnership mistake there is to make along the way. Now she's using AI as her editor, teaching the next generation of women entrepreneurs at Meredith College, and reviving a decades-old dream of a tea house she once put on ice. Stacie Staub and Madi Linder sit down with Molly to talk about the messy realities of business partnerships, how to build real authority instead of gaming the algorithm, and why "done is better than perfect" still applies even when AI can do the work for you. In this episode (00:00) Show Intro (00:52) Group Chat Catch Up (03:09) Meet Molly: Partnerships and AI (22:06) Using AI Tools and Intentions (25:26) Teaching AI Ethics (38:41) Manta of the Week Show Notes:  Molly McKinley Meredith College Entrepreneurship and Impact Center Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People Stay Connected:  Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business Follow ⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠ on Instagram Follow ⁠Stacie and Madie⁠ on Instagram ⁠⁠Your Best Friends In Business⁠⁠⁠ Molly McKinley has launched craft kits, pitched Oprah, built a marketing consultancy, and made just about every partnership mistake there is to make along the way. Now she's using AI as her editor, teaching the next generation of women entrepreneurs at Meredith College, and reviving a decades-old dream of a tea house she once put on ice.

Stacie Staub and Madi Linder sit down with Molly to talk about the messy realities of business partnerships, how to build real authority instead of gaming the algorithm, and why "done is better than perfect" still applies even when AI can do the work for you.


In this episode

(00:00) Show Intro

(00:52) Group Chat Catch Up

(03:09) Meet Molly: Partnerships and AI

(22:06) Using AI Tools and Intentions

(25:26) Teaching AI Ethics

(38:41) Manta of the Week


Show Notes: 

Your Best Friends in Business is produced by West + Main Homes in partnership with Pod People


Stay Connected: 

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe NOW @Your Best Friends in Business

]]> 2508 no Why These Two CEOs Keep Building Businesses They Love Join best friends and co-founders Stacie Staub and Madie Linder as they pull back the curtain on building multiple businesses, bringing you inside honest conversations with founders who are doing the same. Each episode blends real-time business updates, candid interviews, and refreshingly unfiltered debates about what actually works (and what definitely doesn't). Part strategy, part survival guide, and entirely the kind of conversation most business owners desperately need. Come for the tactics, stay for the honesty and leave with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and the reminder that there’s no perfect way to build a business so just build it! Website: ⁠https://www.yourbestfriendsinbusiness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourbestfriendsinbusiness/, https://www.instagram.com/stacieandmadie/ Mon, 29 Jun 2026 22:23:00 -0000 trailer 1 Stacie & Madie | Pod People Join best friends and co-founders Stacie Staub and Madie Linder as they pull back the curtain on building multiple businesses, bringing you inside honest conversations with founders who are doing the same. Each episode blends real-time business updates, candid interviews, and refreshingly unfiltered debates about what actually works (and what definitely doesn't). Part strategy, part survival guide, and entirely the kind of conversation most business owners desperately need. Come for the tactics, stay for the honesty and leave with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and the reminder that there’s no perfect way to build a business so just build it! Website: ⁠https://www.yourbestfriendsinbusiness.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourbestfriendsinbusiness/, https://www.instagram.com/stacieandmadie/ Join best friends and co-founders Stacie Staub and Madie Linder as they pull back the curtain on building multiple businesses, bringing you inside honest conversations with founders who are doing the same.

Each episode blends real-time business updates, candid interviews, and refreshingly unfiltered debates about what actually works (and what definitely doesn't). Part strategy, part survival guide, and entirely the kind of conversation most business owners desperately need.

Come for the tactics, stay for the honesty and leave with practical takeaways, fresh perspectives, and the reminder that there’s no perfect way to build a business so just build it!


Website: ⁠https://www.yourbestfriendsinbusiness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourbestfriendsinbusiness/, https://www.instagram.com/stacieandmadie/

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