Previously On: The System for Maintaining Adult Friendships with Lauren Smart

Previously On: The System for Maintaining Adult Friendships with Lauren Smart

Hot tip for maintaining adult friendships: Move to different cities, never ask who texted last, and consider a blood pact. That’s more or less the system Lauren and I have followed for 17 years—and it’s worked. Today, we’re breaking down how. In this episode of The System for Everything, I’m joined by one of my longest-standing friendships: Lauren Smart. She's a journalism professor, an arts writer, and someone who's had a front-row seat to my entire adult life. We became friends at 22, and somehow—through new jobs, new cities, a lot of karaoke, and one of us (me) developing a codependent relationship with Google Calendar—we’ve stayed maintained a friendship for nearly two decades. We unpack what it really takes to maintain friendships through your 20s, 30s, and beyond, including: * The secret to surviving "Boyfriend Island" seasons * Why meme-sharing and sending that “Hi!” text really matter * What makes a friendship worth the effort as you grow older This episode originally aired as episode 7.

Previously On: The System for Balancing Kids and Connection with Camille Whiting

If your idea of date night is whispering “ice cream and Netflix?” after the kids are asleep, this episode is for you. I sat down with Camille Whiting of Friday We're in Love, one of my long-time internet inspirations, to talk about how to keep connection, fun, and even spontaneity alive in a long-term relationship—especially when kids, jobs, and logistics are in full chaos mode. Camille and her husband Jacob have committed to a weekly date night for over 14 years, and she’s sharing the mindset, systems, and flexible-but-firm strategies that make it sustainable (and joyful!). This episode originally aired as episode 4. We dig into: * How a calendar can save your marriage—and your sanity * Creative systems for dating with kids (even with zero family help) * Why romance thrives with structure, not just spontaneity Connect with Camille: * fridaywereinlove.com [https://fridaywereinlove.com/] * @fridaywereinlove [https://instagram.com/fridaywereinlove] * A Year of Dates [https://fridaywereinlove.com/a-year-of-dates/] * 101 Date Ideas [https://fridaywereinlove.com/101-date-ideas/] * Camp Mom [https://fridaywereinlove.com/category/parenting/camp-mom/]

Previously On: The System for Getting in the Room with Angelica Pompy

Have you ever walked into a room and felt like no one sees you—let alone remembers you? In today's episode, I'm joined by powerhouse business coach, speaker and marketing strategist Angelica Pompy, who helps creative women build profitable businesses with confidence and clarity. Listen in as we dig into how to “get in the room,” not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and strategically. Plus we're talking about how to stay in the room long after you’ve left. This episode originally aired as episode 25. In this Episode: * How showing up as you (even when you don’t feel totally ready) shifts everything in the networking game. * A simple system for following up after that unforgettable (or slightly awkward) connection so you don’t fade into the background. * Why your networking strategy should include your wardrobe, your voice‑memo game, and your Instagram QR code (yes, really). This episode is brought to you by Enji: Tired of winging your marketing? Enji takes the guesswork out of showing up. This all‑in‑one marketing system was built specifically for creative entrepreneurs who want consistency without burnout. Plan, schedule, and track your content with intention—so you can stay visible, stay top‑of‑mind, and still have a life. Try Enji >> [https://www.enji.co/?ref=mzblzme] Find It Quickly: 02:30 - Angelica's Networking Insights 05:40 - Building Confidence in New Spaces 08:29 - Staying Grounded and Authentic 13:55 - Effective Follow-Up Strategies 15:53 - Sharing a Memorable Encounter 16:18 - The Power of Video Messages 17:30 - Staying Connected with Your Network 18:28 - Building a Personal System 21:42 - Facing Imposter Syndrome 25:36 - Overcoming Networking Myths 26:56 - Creating Your Own Opportunities 29:16 - The System Shutdown Mentioned in this Episode: Networking Workbook [https://angelicapompy.com/networking-workbook] Enji [https://www.enji.co/?ref=mzblzme] Connect with Angelica: angelicapompy.com [https://angelicapompy.com/] instagram.com/angelicapompy [https://www.instagram.com/angelicapompy/] Business Church [https://angelicapompy.com/business-church]

Previously On: The System for Understanding Team Temperaments with Ashley Ebert

Ever wish your team just got each other? What if the secret to a balanced, high-performing crew was hiding in plain sight—like in their temperament? In this episode of the System for Everything podcast, I talk with Ashley Ebert, a powerhouse in the wedding industry and the founder of The Abundance Group. After scaling her own wedding planning company into a multi-market million-dollar business, she now helps entrepreneurs do the same—by leading with empathy, not ego. Ashley introduced me to a centuries-old but surprisingly modern leadership tool: the team temperament model. And once she laid it out? It was like I could finally see why some hires worked out beautifully and others... didn’t. This episode originally aired as episode 8. Connect with Ashley: theabundance.group [https://theabundance.group/] instagram.com/theabundancegroup [https://www.instagram.com/theabundancegroup/]

Previously On: The System for Growing Your Email List Without Feeling Spammy with Dawn Richardson

Ever wondered why you dread building your email list? What if I told you it's not about spam—it’s about showing up with heart, humor, and strategy? In this episode, I chat with Dawn Richardson—the product education manager at Flodesk, former software engineer, wedding photographer, and all‑around tech‑meets‑creative powerhouse. She shares how she helps entrepreneurs build email systems that feel authentic, not icky. This episode originally aired as episode 17. This episode is brought to you by The Entrepreneur's Death Folder: If your business couldn’t run without you, that’s a problem—a haunting your assistant from the beyond kind of problem. That’s where the Entrepreneur’s Death Folder [https://dallasgirlfriday.com/death-folder] comes in. It’s your digital contingency plan: all your logins, contacts, workflows, and need-to-knows in one tidy, shareable place. Less spooky, more smart. Because peace of mind is the ultimate productivity tool. Buy Now >> [https://dallasgirlfriday.com/death-folder] 3 Key Takeaways: * Reframing email marketing from sleazy to service: it lives in your subscriber’s inbox (not the public feed), and they're asking to hear from you. * Tools you’ll love: why Dawn’s Mac‑chooser quiz and countdown‑timer opt‑ins outperform generic freebies—and what you can do today to start using them. * Automation with personality: welcome sequences, segmentation, and cleaning your list—done with your voice, so it always feels human. Find It Quickly: * 01:16 - System Reboot: Fun and Personal Questions * 03:03 - Email Marketing Fears and Misconceptions * 05:06 - Personal Experience with Email Marketing * 08:36 - Effective Email List Growth Strategies * 13:23 - Email Marketing Frequency and Best Practices * 17:42 - Cleaning Your Email List * 18:29 - The Entrepreneur's Death Folder * 19:04 - Bringing Your Voice into Automations * 19:29 - Creating an Engaging Welcome Sequence * 22:56 - Segmenting Your Audience Effectively * 26:41 - Building Real Relationships with Subscribers * 31:09 - Getting Started with Flodesk * 33:56 - Systems Shut Down Mentioned in this Episode: * Flodesk - Use Julie's Affiliate Code for 50% Off Your First Year of Flodesk [https://flodesk.com/c/L16QFO] * @flodesk [https://www.instagram.com/flodesk/] Connect with Dawn: * @itsdawnrichardson [https://www.instagram.com/itsdawnrichardson/] * Techsavvycreative.com [https://techsavvycreative.com/]