Leading with Connection: How Aly Is Building a Business with Meaning

Leading with Connection: How Aly Is Building a Business with Meaning

In this episode of Out of Line, I’m sitting down with Aly, founder of Love Aly Jewelry. We talk about the messy middle of working full-time while trying to build something of your own, and what that actually feels like day to day. Aly shares what it’s been like to put herself out there, navigate the vulnerability that comes with creating, and stay connected to why she started in the first place. At the center of it all is connection—how it shows up in her work, in her relationships, and in the way she approaches building something that’s truly hers. If you’re in that in-between space, trying to create something meaningful while balancing everything else, this conversation will feel familiar. Follow Aly at: @lovealyjewelry

Finding the Courage to Leap: How Elle Turned Pretty Steep Jewelry Into Her Full-Time Path

In this episode, Jill sits down with Elle, founder of Pretty Steep Jewelry, a mountain-inspired sterling silver jewelry brand based in the mountains of British Columbia. Elle shares the story of how a creative life she once imagined from afar slowly became real — from growing up in the UK and working in advertising to eventually following her pull to the mountains and building a jewelry business inspired by the landscape around her. Together, they talk about intuition, courage, and the leap Elle recently took to run Pretty Steep full time. They also explore the realities of handmade businesses — wearing every hat, learning as you go, and trusting yourself when the path forward isn’t always obvious. This episode is about listening to the quiet voice inside you. About trusting the pull toward something more aligned. About finding the courage to follow where it leads. Connect with Elle: Instagram: @prettysteep Website: prettysteep.co

Returning to Center: How Margaret Graham Built Centering Pendants From the Inside Out

We live in a world that constantly pulls at our attention — pressure, expectations, noise — and it’s easy to lose our center without even realizing it. In this episode, Jill sits down with Margaret Graham, creator of Centering Pendants, for a conversation about self-trust, inner critics, ADHD, spirituality, and what it really looks like to build a business that stretches you. Margaret shares the story of how an intuitive idea in her car became a tactile mindfulness tool — and how, along the way, it became something she relied on just as much as the people she created it for. Together, they talk about asking for help, navigating doubt, meditation as practice (not perfection), creative identity, and learning to return to yourself again and again. This episode is about grounding yourself while growing. About building without abandoning yourself. About remembering that coming back is a practice. Connect with Margaret: Instagram: @centeringpendants Website: centeringpendants.com Podcast: The Art of Centering

Rewriting the Rules: What 2025 Taught Me About Self-Worth and Reclaiming Joy

I recorded this episode in that strange, foggy stretch between Christmas and New Year’s — the time of year when everything slows down and it feels natural to look back and take stock. This is a solo reflection on 2025: a year with some really high highs and some deeply low lows. I talk about moving through grief and burnout, slowly reconnecting with creativity, and how that season of darkness gave rise to my Brightside collection. I share what it felt like to hit a personal breaking point, and how that moment forced me to reevaluate my sense of self-worth and finally believe I was worthy of support. I also reflect on the quieter shifts that changed everything — finding community, learning to stop white-knuckling life alone, starting this podcast, launching a YouTube channel, teaching my first workshops, and letting myself take up space even when it felt uncomfortable. As I look ahead to 2026, I talk about the kind of year I want to build — one rooted in boldness, honesty, creativity, and deeper connection. If you’ve ever felt the need to shrink to belong, struggled with burnout or self-doubt, or wondered whether it’s okay to invest in yourself and your joy, I hope this episode meets you where you are.

From Engineering to Entrepreneurship: How Fred Graham Is Showing Up for the Creative Community

In this episode of Out of Line, I’m joined by Fred Graham, the creator of Artist Management Studios. We talk about his path from decades in corporate life to building a platform designed to support artists behind the scenes and simplify the business side of creative work. We get into taking risks, asking for help, the importance of community, and what it looks like to build something that feels aligned with your values. Fred also shares the story behind Centering Pendants, the jewelry brand created by his wife, Margaret—who I’ll be chatting with in an upcoming episode—and reflects on how partnership and adaptability have shaped their journey.