I had an absolute blast chatting with Miranda VonFricken, the founder of Own Your Awesome – a book series, podcast, and global movement helping women entrepreneurs shine a light on their awesomeness. What would you do if you got laid off from four different jobs in a row? If you're like Miranda, you might just decide you're done with corporate nonsense and it's time to forge your own path. Join us for a candid convo about the power of celebration, the importance of owning your identity, and why hustle culture is overblown BS.

Can't-Miss Moments:

• I've never wanted a confetti cannon more: we brought out the bigguns from the get-go! Miranda shares why she has confetti cannons in her video background (and why my unplanned nap was something to celebrate)...
  
  
• Quintuple whammy: not only did Miranda get laid off from four consecutive jobs, she also lost her younger brother just before losing her last gig. Her story is a powerful lesson on letting go of what you "should" be doing...
  
  
• Out of context quote: "I don't care if I have to be poor for 3 years..."
  
  
• Evidence of awesomeness: turns out Miranda and I have a similar life philosophy, and we've both chosen THIS instead of letting our lives be dictated by head trash...
  
  
• One simple question Miranda recommends to quickly get yourself out of "stuck in the mud" and back into action...

Miranda's bio:

Miranda VonFricken; Founder of Own Your Awesome!™ A podcast, book series, and global movement attracting and expanding women at work, at home, and online!

With over 15 years of leading teams to success in higher education, sales, and human resources, she stopped ignoring the call from her highest self and went “all in” on entrepreneurship. Since then, she has traveled the world connecting, coaching, and consulting students, executives, and organizations who are ready to “Own Their Awesome!” in life and on LinkedIn!

Miranda is a certified life & business coach, earned a Master’s in Motivation from Empire State College, and has studied the Science of Happiness at Yale University. She’s an International Women’s Day Featured Speaker and was named 2021 Woman of Empowerment by the YWCA of Northeastern NY.

Miranda is called to elevate every woman who has a story, a brand, or a dream and help them shine SO bright it'll be IMPOSSIBLE to ignore and achieve!

She’s a wife, a (sports) mom of two, and a positive force in her business community.

Resources and links:

• Miranda's site
• Miranda on LinkedIn
• Miranda on Insta

Support the show

Let's collab:

• Book a chat
• Work with Angie
• Get the PTKA book

Let's connect:

• Angie’s FB Page
• Angie on IG
• Angie on YT

If you dig the show and want to help bring more episodes to the world, consider buying a coffee for the production team!

Today's guest is Robb Munger, founder of Exodus Place. Robb's an experienced real estate developer and is no stranger to business challenges, but starting Exodus Place proved to be an entirely new kind of challenge. We talked about the raw, real, and often misunderstood world of homelessness and addiction, and Robb does not hold back. He shared his journey from helping a single homeless guy to running the largest transitional housing facility in Michigan, and the lessons he learned along the way may just leave you feeling inspired to go help out wherever you can.

Can't-miss moments:

• The "God moment" - hear what inspired Robb to throw everything he had into Exodus Place, even when he already had so much going on in his life...
  
  
• My beef with asking for help: I get good and ranty about the time I had to swallow my pride and apply for food stamps...
  
  
• Turns out none of us are automatically good at a thing? Robb and I share what we've learned about being brand new (and how to handle it with slightly more grace)...
  
  
• Robb's surprising perspective shift that makes it easier for people to seek out help (I wish I'd had this one back in my unhoused days)...
  
  
• The "water bottle trick" Robb used to help someone struggling with addiction discover an unpleasant truth... and then DO something about it...

Robb's bio:

Robb Munger, founder of Exodus Place, champions transitional housing for homeless men. With a background in finance, where he established a leading financial company in manufactured housing, Munger’s journey took a pivotal turn when he joined the board of Guiding Light Mission. There, he propelled a struggling rescue mission into prominence and transformed a former state corrections facility into Michigan’s largest non-governmental transitional housing, offering new beginnings to those in need.

A former Army Officer, Munger’s commitment to service shines through his philanthropic work and innovative solutions in community development. His collaboration with the Salvation Army and Goodwill in a small town within American City has showcased an innovative approach to addressing homelessness, demonstrating the impactful change that results from combining compassion with action. This initiative, with Munger at the helm, has become a testament to the power of collaborative community efforts in making a tangible difference in people’s lives.

Resources and links:

• Exodus Place
• Exodus Place on Insta
• Exodus Place on FB
• Exodus Place on YT
• Robb on LinkedIn

Support the show

Let's collab:

• Book a chat
• Work with Angie
• Get the PTKA book

Let's connect:

• Angie’s FB Page
• Angie on IG
• Angie on YT

If you dig the show and want to help bring more episodes to the world, consider buying a coffee for the production team!

For the first time in PTKA history, I'm interviewing a Handbag Fairy Godmother - Emily Blumenthal! Not only did she patent a handbag silhouette, write a book, teach at FIT, and start a handbag awards event... she's still growing and evolving even now. Emily's journey is a wild ride filled with hustle, pivots, and ‘figure it out as you go’ moments that'll make you feel right at home if you're an entrepreneur or just love a good success story.

Can't-Miss Moments:

• Things to do in your 20s: a handy checklist courtesy of Emily, including such classics as "date a DJ" and "launch a handbag line"... Check and check!
  
  
• "That’s the worst idea ever!” Emily shares how she handled not-so-helpful feedback from her family as she embraced her calling to design handbags...
  
  
• Stroke of genius: the thing Emily did as she was figuring things out the hard way that turned into major leverage (and street cred) later on...
  
  
• Who expects to meet a literary agent while on jury duty? Emily shares a serendipitous moment that led to her first book deal and the birth of the Handbag Awards...
  
  
• The weird mental dividing line Emily had, even after successfully creating and patenting her handbag silhouette (this is something that holds a lot of entrepreneurs back)...

Emily's bio:

Emily Blumenthal, celebrated as the "Handbag Fairy Godmother" by the New York Times, is a dynamic presence in the handbag industry. As the author of "Handbag Designer 101" and a multifaceted figure encompassing roles as a professor, mentor, designer, and the founder of the Independent Handbag Designer Awards, she has made an indelible impact on the handbag industry with aspiring designers and handbag brands alike. Emily's dedication also extends to kidpreneurship, empowering children of all ages to embrace their inner "Savvy Suzanna." She resides happily in New York City's Lower East Side with her husband and three children.

Resources and links:

• Emily's website
• Emily's book
• Emily on Insta
• Emily on Facebook
• Emily on YouTube
• Emily on LinkedIn

Support the show

Let's collab:

• Book a chat
• Work with Angie
• Get the PTKA book

Let's connect:

• Angie’s FB Page
• Angie on IG
• Angie on YT

If you dig the show and want to help bring more episodes to the world, consider buying a coffee for the production team!