What happened when I stopped hiding and went Live

Eight inspiring conversations about building a business, community and creating a life that supports you - plus every replay, lesson and the story behind the series.

When I first had the idea for The Substack Live Series: Starting From Zero, I knew I wanted to create more than a collection of interviews - I wanted to create a conversation that would inspire others.

This vision I couldn’t get out of my head was to bring together women with different stories, perspectives and paths - but all with an aligned in what “Starting From Zero” means:

Starting from zero does not mean starting with nothing.

And that is the idea at the heart of this series because when you’re starting from zero - it does not mean you have nothing…

You bring your story.

Your experience.

Your resilience.

Your wisdom.

Your ideas.

And the possibility of what comes next.

Over eight days, I had the privilege of speaking with eight incredible women. Every conversation took us somewhere different - but each one reminded me that there is no single way to build a meaningful business, community, creative life or next chapter.

There is only your way.

And sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is allow it to evolve.

If you missed any of the conversations, you can watch the replays here:

• Jennifer Villasante - A conversation about beginning again, trusting your own path, and allowing a new chapter to take shape. Watch the replay →
  

• Ellen Newhouse - On friendship, accountability, creativity, and why starting from zero does not have to mean starting alone. Watch the replay →

• Sinem Günel - On building a publication readers want to pay for, creating trust, and turning consistent work into a sustainable business. Watch the replay →

• Susan Friedmann - On why your book is only the beginning, building authority beyond publication, and creating opportunities from your expertise. Watch the replay →

• Julie Marvel - On creating and being part of a community what that reflects who you are becoming. Watch the replay →
  

• Nat Sang - On building with intention, showing up through uncertainty and making space for the work that matters. Watch the replay →

• Tomide Awe 🪴 - On stepping into possibility, sharing your voice, and creating a life and business that feel more aligned. Watch the replay →

• Fleur Hull - On change, reinvention, and what becomes possible when you choose to begin before you feel fully ready. Watch the replay →

What unfolded was bigger than eight live conversations…

These conversations have created new relationships and deepened existing ones. Not only did it introduce us to brilliant women and their insights - it brought together everyone who joined the conversation live too.

It’s given people a reason to connect and continue the conversation with a deeper understanding of the person sharing their story.

It also reignited my love for interviews in this way, especially here on Substack because the engagement doesn’t stop and the conversation continues through Notes, articles, messages, introductions in the comments.

And it’s reminded me that visibility does not have to mean performing for everyone else’s highlight reel - it can start with a real conversation.

Connecting. Being Curious.

Creating a space where other people feel seen, heard, and encouraged to take their own next step.

That is what I want Starting From Zero to keep becoming - an honest and trusted space for women building a business, community and a life that supports them in every season.

A place to build out loud and to share what is working, what is not and what we are learning along the way….

And a reminder that you do not need to wait until everything is perfect before you begin creating something meaningful.

As the series unfolded, I received so many lovely messages from people saying they would love to create something similar - but were unsure where to start.

And I understand that completely because pressing GO LIVE might look and feel like the biggest step, in many ways though, it’s actually the easiest part.

It’s the behind the scenes where so much of the work actually happens.

The idea, mapping out a plan, finding the right guests, sending the outreach invitation, preparing the questions, creating the graphics, promoting each session, building confidence and learning how to trust yourself enough to press the button.

That is why I created The Substack Live Series Workshop: Create Your Own and I’ll be sharing more about this over the next few days and this will be included in the Annual Membership of Starting From Zero which is very exciting!

It is the practical, behind-the-scenes process I wish I had been handed before I began: everything that helped me turn one idea into eight connected Live conversations.

Not to copy Starting From Zero, but to create your own vision for your own Live Series that makes sense for your publication, your people and the conversations you want to lead.

I am so grateful to every guest who said yes, every person who joined us live or caught the replays, and everyone who has encouraged me to keep going.

What began as an eight-day series has become something so much bigger than I imagined - Season Two is already in the works!

I’m looking forward to us starting more conversations, sharing more stories and continuing to build this community together.

From my heart to yours,

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P.S. If watching these conversations has made you think, “I would love to create something like this,” I’ve created the exact next step for you.

The Substack Live Series Workshop: Create Your Own begins on September 1 and is included with an Annual Membership to Starting From Zero.

Inside, I am sharing my complete 30-day process for creating an intentional Substack Live series - from finding your concept and inviting guests to preparing, promoting, hosting, and turning every conversation into content that keeps working afterwards.

The workshop is available separately for $47, but will be included in Annual Membership which is currently on Special Offer for $80 and also includes the workshop, all upcoming workshops, Substack Social sessions, behind-the-scenes lessons, design templates and resources, and more.

Upgrade to Annual Membership by August 22 and you will also receive a complimentary 30-minute 1:1 Strategy Call with me, valued at $375. Spaces are limited.

Upgrade to Annual Membership and create your own Live series →