Conversations Beyond the Brand

It Begins With You: The Work of Knowing Yourself

In this powerful episode of Conversations Beyond the Brand, Tashana Thompson sits down with Joann Dean, social worker, ten-time self-published author, certified life and book coach, and founder of Self-Care for Success, for a deeply honest and transformative conversation about identity, healing, and what it truly means to know yourself. What begins as a discussion about Joann’s journey into social work, inspired by watching her grandmother nurture and care for her community, unfolds into a much deeper exploration of the emotional experiences that shape how we show up in the world. From building a sister circle that grew into a movement for women, to navigating her own personal healing journey, Joann shares how her work has always been rooted in creating space for women who are used to holding everything together for everyone else. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful and often unspoken reality: the impact of the father wound. Together, Tashana and Joann explore the emotional void many women carry, even when they were raised with love and support, and how the absence of masculine affirmation can quietly influence confidence, identity, and relationships. Joann vulnerably shares her own journey, including a pivotal moment of healing that took place on the very porch where her story with her father began. This episode also offers practical reflection points, including four foundational questions that challenge you to look inward and truly understand who you are, along with Joann’s HEART framework, which anchors self-care in self-discovery, alignment, and trust. This is not a conversation about surface-level self-care. It is about the kind of inner work that transforms how you see yourself, how you show up, and how you define success. If you have ever felt like something was missing, even when everything looked aligned on the outside, this conversation will meet you with both truth and grace. Connect with Joann Dean Website: https://selfcareforsuccess.org/ [https://selfcareforsuccess.org/] Connect with Tashana Thompson Website: https://beyondsolutions.biz/ [https://beyondsolutions.biz/] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Origin Story

From toxic job to bankruptcy to multiple six figures—this is the REAL story of how I built Beyond Business Solutions. And yes, I'm sharing the parts most entrepreneurs won't tell you. 💔➡️💪 Welcome to Part 3 of my interview series with Cashe Thompson! This episode gets REAL about my journey—the mistakes, the surrender, the dark seasons, and how God used relationships to rebuild everything. What You'll Discover in This Episode: In this raw, vulnerable conversation, Cashe and I discuss: ✨ Why I quit my job at 25 with a mortgage and no real plan (young and dumb, but God had me!) ✨ The toxic work environment that led to health issues—I was pre-diabetic and miserable ✨ How my former employer offered me consulting work that doubled my income after I quit ✨ The original business name that nobody could pronounce (Aurora Neche Business Services 😂) ✨ Filing for bankruptcy after a decade in business—the shame, the darkness, and the surrender ✨ Losing my business partner 4 months postpartum while income dropped to $25K ✨ The Abraham and Isaac moment: When God tested my heart with my savings ✨ How I rebuilt a multiple six-figure business through the power of relationships ✨ Why "no person, place, or condition is my supply"—only God ✨ The gift my former business partner gave me by leaving Timestamps: 1:07 - Taking the Leap at 25: Leaving My Job 1:38 - We Were Miserable and Decided to Quit 2:32 - Young and Dumb (Don't Do What I Did!) 3:02 - The Health Wake-Up Call: Pre-Diabetic at 25 4:03 - The Original Business Name: Aurora Neche 4:36 - Wanting to Control My Own Destiny 5:11 - The Problem: Small Businesses Closing at Alarming Rates 5:40 - Your Mama Can Bake Good Cakes... 6:24 - The Business Nerd Awakens in MBA Program 7:20 - Why I Got a Dual MBA: Marketing + HR 8:08 - Quitting and Giving Away My Savings 8:42 - Abraham and Isaac: The Ram in the Bush 10:14 - Testing My Heart: Will You Still Do This? 12:07 - God's Provision: The Consulting Offer 12:47 - You Can't Make Anything Your God 14:01 - Don't Make Your Spouse, Kids, or Money Your Idol 15:31 - Daily Surrender (Not Just Once in 2007!) 16:35 - The Next Bump: Pregnancy, Partner Leaving, Bankruptcy 17:10 - Filing for Bankruptcy After a Decade in Business 18:05 - My Chapter in "Inspiring Women" Book 19:19 - The First Step: Rebuilding Through Relationships 19:46 - The Power of Relationships: My Path to Rebuilding 20:30 - God Gives You Double for Your Trouble 21:26 - The Reality: Fourth Quarter Tears and All 22:11 - Becoming Sole CEO After Partnership Ended 23:02 - She Gave Me a Gift to Rebuild My Way 23:44 - Four Months Postpartum When She Left 24:30 - The Dark Season: From Six Figures to $25K 25:20 - Losing My Sister-Friend and Business Anchor 25:40 - Our Lives Move at the Speed of Our Relationships A Little About This Episode: This is my most vulnerable conversation yet. I'm sharing the failures, the bankruptcy, the postpartum darkness, and how relationships literally rebuilt my life and business. If you're in a dark season right now, this is for you. This is PART 3 of our series - catch up on Parts 1 & 2, and stay tuned for the final segment! 💼 Ready to Work Together? If you're ready to rebuild or scale your business through the power of relationships → https://beyondsolutions.biz 📖 Featured in This Episode: "Inspiring Women: Living an Unstoppable Life with Purpose, Power, and Passion" - Available on Amazon 🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growwithbbs/videos Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ncC7zaBzTYTEfDgvWpJcn?si=TLJ4l7ctT3m3Llal05XQhw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversations-beyond-the-brand/id1819480858 IHeart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-conversations-beyond-the-b-279950512/ 📱 Let's Connect: Instagram: @growwithbbs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashanathomas/ Website: https://beyondsolutions.biz New episodes drop every Sunday at 3 PM! Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a conversation that goes beyond the surface. 🔔 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Heart Behind the Podcast

What started as a 5-year dream is now a movement bringing women-leaders out of the shadows. Here's why I FINALLY launched Conversations Beyond the Brand, and what I'm building for YOU. Welcome to Part 2 of my interview series with my business bestie Cashe Thompson! In this episode, we're diving deep into the WHY behind my podcast and how it connects to my bigger mission of helping brilliant women shine. What You'll Discover in This Episode: In this heartfelt conversation, Cashe and I explore: ✨ Why it took me 5+ years to finally launch this podcast (and what gave me the courage) ✨ The REAL role this show plays in my mission to spotlight women-led businesses and nonprofits ✨ Why I'm obsessed with conversation over being a "talking head" ✨ What I look for in every guest (hint: it's all about being heart-centered) ✨ My honest take on AI vs. human connection—and why humanity is already getting fatigued ✨ How this podcast IS my Relationship Currency framework in action ✨ What I want YOU to feel after every episode (you're not alone in this entrepreneurial journey!) ✨ The 10 incredible women on my team who help me co-labor these visions into reality Timestamps: 0:36 - Why I Started This Podcast (A 5-Year Dream!) 1:04 - The Role of the Podcast in My Mission 2:08 - Shining Light on Businesses People Don't Know About 2:48 - Why I'm a Total Business Nerd 3:35 - Why I Bring On Experts vs. Going Solo 4:12 - I Love Conversation (And Running My Mouth!) 4:45 - What I Look for in My Guests 5:09 - Heart-Centered People Over Bottom Line 5:34 - AI vs. Human Interaction: My Hot Take 6:32 - The Podcast IS Relationship Currency in Action 7:19 - Why Conversation is What Connects Us 7:47 - Lessons from COVID: We Need Community 8:44 - What I Want Listeners to Gain from This Show 9:26 - Entrepreneurship is LONELY (You're Not Alone!) 10:40 - This is a Labor of Love and a Calling 11:15 - My Team of 10 Women Co-Laboring with Me A Little About This Episode: This conversation gets REAL about why I do what I do. After almost 19 years in business, I'm finally sharing the heart behind the podcast and why authentic, human-centered connection will always win—even in an AI-driven world. This is PART 2 of our series - catch up on Part 1 if you missed it, and stay tuned for more! 💼 Ready to Work Together? If you're tired of hiding your brilliance under a basket, let's talk → https://beyondsolutions.biz 🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growwithbbs/videos Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ncC7zaBzTYTEfDgvWpJcn?si=TLJ4l7ctT3m3Llal05XQhw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversations-beyond-the-brand/id1819480858 IHeart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-conversations-beyond-the-b-279950512/ 📱 Let's Connect: Instagram: @growwithbbs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashanathomas/ Website: https://beyondsolutions.biz New episodes drop every Sunday at 3 PM! Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a conversation that goes beyond the surface. 🔔 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

For the first time ever, I'm flipping the script!

For the first time EVER on Conversations Beyond the Brand, I'm stepping OUT of the host chair and INTO the guest seat! My business bestie Cashe Thompson is interviewing ME to give you an intimate look at who I am beyond the strategy sessions and brand launches. What You'll Discover in This Episode: In this raw, unfiltered conversation, Cashe and I dive deep into: ✨ The REAL work I do with my clients (spoiler: it goes WAY beyond logos and social posts—we're talking P&Ls, revenue patterns, and deep vision work) ✨ How I've spent 19 years helping women-led businesses and nonprofits step out from the shadows and SHINE ✨ Why my busiest days are relationship-heavy—and how that perfectly aligns with my Relationship Currency framework ✨ My heart's mission: taking the basket OFF the lamp so the world can see how brilliant these women really are ✨ What it means when I say I'm not just a marketer—I'm a strategic advisor, co-laborer, and partner in birthing your vision ✨ The legacy I'm building: helping superwomen create businesses that eventually make work OPTIONAL Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction: Flipping the Script 0:36 - My Elevator Pitch: Professional vs. The Truth 2:24 - What the Work REALLY Is (It's Not Just Marketing!) 3:52 - Going Deep: P&Ls, Strategy & Life Coaching 5:23 - How I Help Clients See Their Vision Bigger 6:32 - A Day in My Life: Thursdays are Busy! 9:10 - The Relationship Currency Connection 10:14 - My Mission: Taking the Basket Off the Lamp 12:07 - Working With Superwomen Who Need a Team A Little About Me: I'm Tashana Thompson, CEO and Chief Marketing Officer of Beyond Business Solutions. For nearly two decades, I've led a done-for-you branding and marketing agency specializing in women-led small businesses and nonprofits. But here's what I really do: I help brilliant women who are used to being in the background step into the spotlight they deserve. We don't just create marketing plans, we co-labor to bring their full vision into reality. This is PART 1 of our series - so stay tuned as Cashe and I continue this conversation! 💼 Ready to Work Together? If you're tired of hiding your brilliance under a basket, let's talk → https://beyondsolutions.biz 🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Platform: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@growwithbbs/videos Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ncC7zaBzTYTEfDgvWpJcn?si=TLJ4l7ctT3m3Llal05XQhw Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/conversations-beyond-the-brand/id1819480858 IHeart Radio - https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-conversations-beyond-the-b-279950512/ 📱 Let's Connect: Instagram: @growwithbbs LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tashanathomas/ Website: https://beyondsolutions.biz New episodes drop every Sunday at 3 PM! Subscribe and hit the notification bell so you never miss a conversation that goes beyond the surface. 🔔 ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Weight of Leadership: Dr. Melanie Bowers on Decision Making & Organizational Reality | Interview with Dr. Melanie Bowers

This conversation with Dr. Melanie Bowers offers a grounded and honest look at what leadership really feels like behind the scenes. We explore the everyday realities of organizational culture, the pressure leaders carry, and the moments when values are tested through real decisions. Dr. Melanie shares personal stories from her career that highlight authenticity, responsibility, and the importance of understanding what people experience at work. We also talk about leadership loneliness, clarity in hard moments, and the cost individuals often absorb when culture does not align with what is written on the wall. This episode closes with a fun lightning round that brings her personality to life. Listen in for a thoughtful and insightful conversation that invites all of us to reflect on how leadership shows up in real time. About the Guest Dr. Melanie Bowers is an accomplished organizational development strategist with more than twenty years of experience helping global companies strengthen leadership, culture, and performance. She has served in executive roles supporting complex business environments and has spent many years teaching in an Executive MBA program. Her work focuses on human behavior in organizations, change readiness, and the connection between leadership actions and workplace culture. She is known for her thoughtful approach to decision-making, her insight into human capital, and her ability to help leaders navigate challenging moments with clarity and purpose. About the Host Dr. Tashana Thompson is the creator and host of Conversations Beyond the Brand. She is a seasoned marketer, strategist, and storyteller with two decade of experience helping leaders and organizations show up authentically and with intention. Her work centers on relationship-driven marketing, leadership alignment, and meaningful conversations that help people understand the heart behind the brand. She brings warmth, curiosity, and deep expertise to every episode as she invites guests to share the stories behind their work. Connect and Learn More Connect with Dr. Melanie Bowers at Shepherd Consulting. Visit her website to learn more about her work in organizational design, leadership, and change readiness. https://shepherdconsultingod.com/ [https://shepherdconsultingod.com/]  Connect with Tashana Thompson & Beyond Business Solutions to explore her work in branding, marketing, and relationship-driven strategy. 🏢 Beyond Business Solutions: https://beyondsolutions.biz/ [https://beyondsolutions.biz/]  🎧 Subscribe to Conversations Beyond the Brand: https://beyondsolutions.biz/podcast/ [https://beyondsolutions.biz/podcast/]  Thank you for watching. Make sure you subscribe to Conversations Beyond the Brand and enjoy more episodes for every insight and moment of truth shared in this conversation. This episode is for educational and inspirational purposes. Views expressed are those of the individuals and don't necessarily reflect those of Beyond Business Solutions. © Beyond Business Solutions ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.