In this week’s podcast episode, Emily chats with Ciara Landroma, an entrepreneur, coach and van-lifer who finally said yes to her dreams and shed the expectations of other people a year ago to set off on her own adventure traveling the country, working on the road, and supporting women with finding financial freedom. She joins Emily to chat more about letting go of goals that weren’t really hers to begin with, selling it all and living in a van, and her new found love for content creation.

A corporate, ladder-climbing professional got to the top and didn’t like anything she saw. So, she said goodbye to it all and drove away. Literally. Ciara Ladroma moves with a purpose to share how life can be absolutely delicious when you start to choose yourself. Ciara lives full-time in her campervan as she works and plays as a 100% digital nomad with her partner and their dog. Ciara creates wealth for Women, Queer Folx, BIPOC through budget & business coaching, as well as, a curator of multi-media content that inspires viewers to choose themselves and choose joy. 

 Tune in for topics like:

• Shifting from a work-first mindset to finding joy
• The collection of moments that led to a radical shift in Ciara’s life
• Why a month long challenge turned into 3 years of sober living
• Pivoting to focus on content creation
• The question we should be asking ourselves regularly
• Navigating others’ opinions of your decisions
• The Daily Moment program

Links from the episode:

• The Daily Moment program
• Ciara’s website
• Ciara’s Instagram
• The Megan Ciara Show Instagram

Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week’s podcast episode, Emily chats with Tobi Parks, an entertainment and intellectual property attorney, majority owner and CEO of xBk, a Des Moines-based music venue, and Board Vice President for the National Independent Venue Association Foundation.

Listen in as Tobi & Emily chat through Tobi’s experiences in the music world, both as an artist and on the business side. Tobi shares how her journey led her from rural Missouri to New York City and details her decade in the city working for Sony Music, touring with bands, marrying her wife and having children. Ultimately, a desire for a better city to raise kids and be closer to family led Tobi and her family to Des Moines, Iowa, where she immediately immersed herself in the music scene.

Tobi walks listeners through her experience opening up xBk in the Drake neighborhood, her vision, the obstacles she had to overcome and what’s next for her (hint: it may just be right next door and involve cocktails). 

Tune in for topics like:

• Tobi’s background and music experience
• Moving to NYC and spending a decade in the music industry there
• The trip that made Tobi change her mind about Des Moines
• The vision for xBk
• Why the Drake neighborhood was chosen for a music venue
• What’s next for Tobi & xBk

Links from the episode:

• xBk website
• xBk Instagram
• xBk Facebook

Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!

In this week’s podcast episode, Emily chats with Sue Honkamp, founder of Real Food 4 Kids, a brand dedicated to offering food education and hands-on cooking classes for kids and teens. Sue is passionate about getting kids involved in the kitchen and teaching them how to create wholesome, tasty meals for themselves and others.

Listen in as Sue & Emily talk about Sue’s background at Oscar Meyer that led to a career shift and motivation to investigate the foods she and her family were consuming and the ingredients inside. Sue shares more about how she started her business, her pivots during the pandemic and all she has planned for the future, including new summer camps and cooking courses for teens.

Tune in for topics like:

• Sue’s experience as a brand manager at Oscar Meyer
• Why Sue was motivated to create her own food when her daughter required a feeding tube
• The one thing Sue hopes kids take away from her cooking classes
• How to encourage your kids to try new foods
• Sue’s latest launch: Real Food 4 Life
• Key takeaways from 6 years in business

Links from the episode:

• Real Food 4 Life Teens Cooking Course
• Real Food 4 Kids website
• Real Food 4 Kids Facebook
• Real Food 4 Kids Instagram

Follow me (Emily Steele) (Love Local) on Instagram for a little business + a little life, and a whole lot of positive energy!