The Unexpected Networking Power of Starting a Podcast

How I Built a Business Out of Things I Did for Fun

Takeaways * Nearly 80% of Minnesota small businesses survive their first two years, and understanding what makes or breaks that milestone can help you build a more resilient business from day one. * Losing clients, taking income hits, and pivoting fast are not signs of failure. They're exactly what self-employment looks like in real life. * Building a business around the things you actually love doing is not a pipe dream. It's a strategy. Summary of the Episode In this special milestone episode, Abbey Graves celebrates two full years of running Abbey Graves Productions as her primary source of income. Rather than a polished retrospective, Abbey gets real about what this journey has actually looked like: the client losses, the long days, the pivots, and the deeply unglamorous moments alongside the wins. Abbey kicks things off with a stat worth sitting with: in Minnesota, roughly 78 to 80 percent of self-employed businesses survive their first two years, slightly beating the national average. Year one sees about 20 percent fail. Another 30 to 32 percent of those remaining don't make it to year three. Abbey has beaten those odds, and she thinks it's worth talking about why. She walks through where the business started on June 1st, 2024 (seven podcast clients and a DJ gig) versus where it stands today: 13 active shows, a downtown St. Cloud studio, photo booth and video guest book rental services, music bingo, and over 800 podcast episodes produced. That growth didn't come easy. There was a week this past winter when Abbey lost two clients back-to-back, a $1,500 monthly hit she had to absorb and route around fast. Abbey closes with a message that goes beyond her own story: if you are running any kind of small business, even part-time, stop being humble about it. You are doing something hard and something meaningful, and it deserves to be celebrated out loud. Key Topics Covered * Why the two-year mark is a significant survival milestone for self-employed business owners * How Abbey Graves Productions has grown and diversified since June 2024 * The real financial and emotional cost of losing clients * Building multiple income streams to stay afloat during slow periods * What it looks like to produce 800+ podcast episodes in under three years * Why building a business around your interests is both practical and sustainable * Gratitude for family, clients, and the support system behind the scenes https://abbeygravesproductions.com/ [https://abbeygravesproductions.com/]

How to Gamify Your Business and Make Entrepreneurship Fun with Paul Pape

Take Paul's Quiz: https://gamifybusiness.com/quiz/ [https://gamifybusiness.com/quiz/] Takeaways * Why most creatives struggle with traditional business education * How gamification can make entrepreneurship easier to understand * Why building a loyal audience matters more than chasing virality What happens when a creative entrepreneur turns business into a role-playing game? In this episode, Abbey sits down with Paul Pape, creator of Gamify Business, designer, author, consultant, and self-described barkeep for entrepreneurs. Paul shares how helping creative business owners led him to build an entirely new framework that teaches entrepreneurship through gaming concepts. Together they discuss why traditional business education fails creatives, how storytelling creates stronger brands, and why social media metrics are often distracting entrepreneurs from what actually matters. Paul also introduces his Rule of 100 concept and explains why finding your first 100 true fans may be more valuable than chasing millions of views. If business plans, marketing language, and growth strategies have ever felt overwhelming, this episode offers a refreshing approach to building a business in a way that feels human, engaging, and sustainable. Key Topics Covered: * Gamifying entrepreneurship for creative thinkers * Why traditional business advice misses the mark * The Rule of 100 for sustainable audience growth * Building a business without losing your identity * Storytelling and personal branding * Why podcasts work as a business growth tool * Business personality types and entrepreneurial strengths * Creating systems that support neurodivergent entrepreneurs https://abbeygravesproductions.com/ [https://abbeygravesproductions.com/]

Be the Disco Ball: Community Building Lessons for Entrepreneurs

Takeaways * Why strong communities create more opportunities than traditional networking * How the DISCO Framework helps entrepreneurs build deeper relationships * The unexpected business growth that comes from showing up consistently In this special live keynote episode, Abbey Graves shares her signature DISCO Framework for building meaningful community connections that create lasting impact in both life and business. Drawing from stories as a podcast producer, DJ, entrepreneur, volunteer, and community leader, Abbey explains why the most successful people are not necessarily the wealthiest, but the people surrounded by the strongest villages. Through personal stories about fundraising, entrepreneurship, social media, grief, friendship, and leadership, Abbey breaks down the five elements of becoming a “disco ball” in your community: Decide to show up. Invest before expecting return. Use social media as a village-building tool. Create connection consistently. Offer light to others. This keynote is a reminder that relationships are not built during emergencies. They are built through ordinary moments and intentional connection. Key Topics Covered: * The loneliness epidemic and rebuilding real community * Why showing up creates opportunities money cannot buy * The Seven Hour Rule and building trust * Growing a business through genuine relationships * Social media as a modern village square * Creating opportunities for others behind the scenes * Leadership without burnout * How to know what deserves your time and energy * b

How Storytelling Shapes Confidence, Presence, and Success with Sandra Bargman

Takeaways * Sandra Bargman shares how acting, ministry, and storytelling all connect through authentic human connection. * The BIG Approach teaches people to communicate through Breath, Intention, and Genuineness. * Podcasting became a transformative outlet for Sandra during COVID and helped amplify her voice and mission. In this inspiring episode of Abbey the Podcast Lady, Abbey Graves sits down with actress, interfaith minister, storyteller, and podcast host Sandra Bargman [https://www.sandrabargman.com/]for a powerful conversation about voice, presence, spirituality, and personal transformation. Sandra shares her fascinating career journey from performing on stage and touring with legendary talents to becoming an ordained interfaith minister and communication coach. She explains how her passion for storytelling and helping others led her to develop her signature BIG Approach: Breath, Intention, and Genuineness. The conversation dives into how authentic presence impacts communication, why storytelling matters in both business and life, and how podcasting helped Sandra step into her own voice during the pandemic. Sandra also discusses spiritual curiosity, past life regression, empowering women to speak up, and why every person has meaningful stories worth sharing. This episode is packed with insights for podcasters, entrepreneurs, creatives, speakers, and anyone looking to communicate with more confidence and authenticity. Key Topics Covered: * Sandra Bargman’s journey from acting to ministry * The connection between creativity and spirituality * What makes someone truly magnetic and memorable * The BIG Approach: Breath, Intention, and Genuineness * Storytelling as a tool for connection and leadership * Podcasting as a platform for personal growth * Empowering women to use their voices * Authentic communication and presence * Spiritual exploration and curiosity * The importance of being heard and seen https://abbeygravesproductions.com/ [https://abbeygravesproductions.com/]

Podcast FAQs: How Long Should Episodes Be and How Often Should You Publish?

Takeaways * A mix of solo and interview episodes creates consistency and authority in your niche. * Podcast episode length should serve the content, not an arbitrary time requirement. * Sustainable publishing schedules help creators avoid burnout and stay consistent. Summary of the Episode In this FAQ-style episode of Abbey the Podcast Lady, Abbey Graves answers some of the most common questions new podcasters ask when they’re preparing to launch a show. From deciding between solo episodes and interviews to figuring out how often to publish, Abbey breaks down the realities of podcast production in a practical and approachable way. She shares why a blended podcast format often works best for consistency, how creators can avoid burnout by choosing a realistic publishing schedule, and why there’s no “perfect” podcast episode length. Abbey also discusses scripting versus speaking off the cuff and explains what truly makes a podcast engaging for listeners. Whether you’re starting your first podcast or refining your current format, this episode offers actionable podcasting tips to help you create a show that feels authentic, sustainable, and valuable to your audience. Key Topics Covered: * Solo podcast episodes vs interview podcasts * How long podcast episodes should be * Creating a realistic podcast publishing schedule * Whether podcast episodes need scripts * How to make a podcast more engaging * Avoiding podcast creator burnout * Building audience connection through podcasting Sign up for the newsletter: https://abbeygravesproductions.com/newsletter/ [https://abbeygravesproductions.com/newsletter/] Affiliates: https://abbeygravesproductions.com/affiliates/ [https://abbeygravesproductions.com/affiliates/] Connect with Abbey: https://abbeygravesproductions.com/ [https://abbeygravesproductions.com/] Podcast Website: https://abbeythepodcastlady.com [https://abbeythepodcastlady.com] Podcast gear recommendations: https://www.amazon.com/shop/abbey-thesmalltowntourist/list/SXFRAQOS5X5J?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d [https://www.amazon.com/shop/abbey-thesmalltowntourist/list/SXFRAQOS5X5J?ref_=aip_sf_list_spv_ofs_mixed_d]