09. From Freelancer to Acquisition: How Brooke Apffel Built and Sold a Seven-Figure Agency

11. Adriana Carrig on Trusting Yourself When Everything Gets Louder

Kaitlyn Parker sits down with Adriana Carrig, founder and Chief Brand Officer of Little Words Project, for a conversation about what it really looks like to keep trusting yourself as everything around you grows. Adriana built Little Words Project from a simple idea into a nationally recognized brand and community. But this conversation is not about the highlight reel. It is about what happens after the growth. Because the bigger things get, the louder it all becomes. More opinions. More pressure. More decisions. More at stake. And in the middle of that, the question becomes whether you can still hear your own voice. Adriana shares what it has looked like to navigate this current season, one where she is not starting from scratch, but also not fully certain of what comes next. She talks openly about being in the middle of it, getting knocked down, taking longer to get back up, and learning how to return to what she knows to be true about herself and her work. The conversation explores the reality of building without a roadmap. The tension between trusting your gut and taking in constant input. The shift from early “blind belief” to leading with more data, more responsibility, and more complexity. Kaitlyn and Adriana also talk about the role of AI in business and how it is changing the way founders operate. Not as a replacement for people or creativity, but as a tool that can support capacity in a season where many teams are stretched thin. They also get into the behind-the-scenes of leadership and motherhood. Adriana shares honestly about the tension of wanting to be fully present in both, and what it looks like to hold that reality without pretending there is a perfect balance. Throughout the conversation, one idea comes up again and again. Self-trust is not something you figure out once. It is something you return to, especially in the moments where it feels hardest. ---------------------------------------- IN THIS EPISODE: * What changes when you move from starting to scaling * Why self-trust can feel harder as things grow * Navigating input, pressure, and decision fatigue * The tension between data, instinct, and leadership * Using AI to support capacity without losing human connection * The reality of building a business while raising a family * Getting back up and continuing to trust yourself ---------------------------------------- LINKS AND RESOURCES: * Little Words Project: https://littlewordsproject.com/ [https://littlewordsproject.com/] * Follow Adriana: https://www.instagram.com/adrianacarrig/ [https://www.instagram.com/adrianacarrig/] * The Power of Little Words by Adriana Carrig: https://a.co/d/02CCEzcW [https://a.co/d/02CCEzcW] * Kaitlyn Parker and Copy Uncorked: https://copyuncorked.com/ [https://copyuncorked.com/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/ [https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/] https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker [https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker] * Substack: https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/ [https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/]

10. The Capacity Score: Why Over-Promising to Yourself Erodes Self-Trust

At three weeks postpartum, Kaitlyn reflects on one of the most honest moments she has experienced about her actual capacity—and the insight it revealed. In this solo episode, she shares the birth story of her son Ralph and how that experience clarified something many high-achievers struggle with: the gap between the expectations we set during peak seasons and the energy we actually have during harder ones. That gap, she argues, is where self-trust quietly erodes. To navigate it, Kaitlyn introduces a simple framework she calls The Capacity Score—a way to assess your real bandwidth across the different areas of life and align your expectations accordingly. Instead of constantly trying to stretch your capacity, this episode explores what it looks like to build integrity inside it. Through practical examples—including the short daily checklist she’s using during postpartum—Kaitlyn offers a grounded approach to protecting self-trust during seasons when energy, focus, and margin are limited. Because sometimes the most powerful thing you can do isn’t pushing harder. It’s keeping the promises that actually fit the season you're in. KEY TAKEAWAYS * Why misaligned expectations quietly erode self-trust * The difference between stretching your capacity vs. building integrity inside it * How the Capacity Score framework helps you realistically assess your season * Why high performers often set goals from their “10-capacity self” * How naming your true capacity across life areas removes unnecessary pressure * A practical example of what a “3-capacity season” can look like in real life * The role of small daily promises in rebuilding self-trust * How a short list of non-negotiable daily habits can anchor you during demanding seasons * Why honoring a lower-capacity season can ultimately strengthen your confidence Questions to reflect on after this episode: * What is your actual capacity right now—not the one you wish you had? * Where is your energy really going in this season of life? * Are the promises you're making to yourself sized for the version of you that exists today? CONNECT WITH KAITLYN Find Kaitlyn and all things Copy Uncorked at https://copyuncorked.com/ [https://copyuncorked.com/] Join the Interest List to work with Copy Uncorked https://copyuncorked.com/contact [https://copyuncorked.com/contact] Jump in with The Essential Copy Course https://copyuncorked.com/tecc [https://copyuncorked.com/tecc] Follow Kaitlyn + Copy Uncorked on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/ [https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/] https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker [https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker] Subscribe to Kaitlyn’s Substack: https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/ [https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/] Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review and share it with a friend. 🤍

09. From Freelancer to Acquisition: How Brooke Apffel Built and Sold a Seven-Figure Agency

What happens when the business you built from scratch is suddenly ready for a chapter you never planned for? In this conversation, I sit down with Brooke Apffel, founder of Coastal Collective Marketing, to unpack her journey from freelancing at her kitchen table to building and ultimately selling a seven-figure agency. Brooke shares what it really looked like to grow a thriving company while raising three kids, how her relationship with risk shifted over the years, and the moment she knew she was ready for something different in 2024. We also talk candidly about the acquisition process, what buyers were actually looking for, and why she made the brave decision to walk away from a deal just before signing. That decision ultimately led to a far more aligned partnership with Stellar, reinforcing the power of trusting yourself when the stakes feel high. Throughout our conversation, we explore what it means to lead with your values, make strategic pivots, and build a business that evolves alongside you in a constantly changing social media landscape. Key Topics Covered: * The timeline of Coastal Collective from 2020 to present * Building and scaling a marketing agency while raising a family * How Brooke’s relationship with risk and mental load changed as the business grew * What made her feel ready to sell and how she knew it was the right timing * The acquisition process - how Brooke handled the process behind the scenes * Breaking the news to the team and thoughts on her new role in Coastal Collective * Why social media isn’t dead, shareable content is critical, and good strategy prevails See more from Coastal Collective Marketing on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coastalcollectivemarketing/ [https://www.instagram.com/coastalcollectivemarketing/] and their website https://www.coastalcollectivemarketing.com/ [https://www.coastalcollectivemarketing.com/] Find Kaitlyn and all things Copy Uncorked at https://copyuncorked.com/ [https://copyuncorked.com/] Follow Kaitlyn + Copy Uncorked Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/ [https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/] https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker [https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker] Subscribe to Kaitlyn’s Substack: https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/ [https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/] Topics: self-trust, business growth, acquisition, social media strategy, brand value, entrepreneurship, risk management, community support, personal development, agency life, Coastal Collective, Brooke Apffel, Stellar, marketing agency, social media marketing

08. Unfamiliar Isn’t Wrong: Pregnancy, Postpartum, & Learning Your New Normal with Liz Martin, DPT

Pregnancy and postpartum can feel like stepping into a body and life you no longer recognize, and the only way through it is to talk about what most people are afraid to say out loud. Liz Martin, DPT, pelvic floor physical therapist and founder of The Mama PT, joins the conversation to explore what it means to trust your body through pregnancy, birth, and postpartum healing. As sisters with very different comfort levels around vulnerability, we unpack Liz’s “nothing is TMI” philosophy and why honest conversations are essential for women navigating seasons that can leave them feeling foreign in their own skin. Drawing from her clinical expertise and her experiences as a mom of three, Liz shares how nervous system safety, breathwork, stress cycle completion, and honoring your changing energy all play a role in true healing. From setting boundaries around rest to hiring support and redefining strength in motherhood, this conversation is a reminder that unfamiliarity is not wrong and that you have the freedom to change your mind at any point along the way. Key Topics Covered: • How Liz became a pelvic floor physical therapist and why she was drawn to this specialty • The “nothing is TMI” mindset and why open conversations create real healing • Feeling unfamiliar in your body during pregnancy and postpartum • Why you cannot control the process of becoming a mother, and why that is not failure • The nervous system’s role in healing and the impact of living in fight or flight • Breathwork and mind-body connection as powerful postpartum recovery tools • Completing the stress cycle so your body can truly rest and repair • High-achieving women, masculine energy, and the transition into motherhood • Learning to lean into feminine energy without losing your identity • The freedom to change your mind during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum • How Liz intentionally structured her third postpartum experience differently • Medication, doulas, pastoral support, and unexpected outlets for healing • The importance of a supportive spouse and shared energy in marriage • Why taking care of yourself sets the spiritual and emotional tone for your home Visit Liz’s Website: https://themamapt.com/ [https://themamapt.com/] Follow Liz on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themamapt/ [https://www.instagram.com/themamapt/] Find Kaitlyn and all things Copy Uncorked at: https://copyuncorked.com/ [https://copyuncorked.com/] Follow Kaitlyn + Copy Uncorked Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/ [https://www.instagram.com/copyuncorked/] https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker [https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynhparker] Subscribe to Kaitlyn's Substack: https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/ [https://bykaitlynparker.substack.com/] topics: pregnancy, postpartum healing, pelvic floor physical therapy, Liz Martin DPT, The Mama PT, nervous system regulation, fight or flight, stress cycle completion, maternal mental health, motherhood transition, trusting your body, postpartum recovery, feminine energy, high achieving women, birth experience, postpartum support, breathwork for moms, pelvic floor health, maternal wellness, marriage in motherhood

07: The Strength to End Well (and Trust What Comes Next) with Ashley Knepper

What does it really take to end something well? In this episode of Trust Yourself, Kaitlyn is joined by Ashley Knepper—former founder and president of Reed & Associates Marketing—for an honest conversation about leadership, self-trust, and the courage it takes to recognize when a season is complete. Ashley spent 14 years building and leading a successful marketing agency he co-founded in her early twenties. What began with willingness and grit grew into a business that supported a team, served clients across the country, and demanded sustained emotional and mental endurance. And then, during the pandemic—and while pregnant with her third child—Ashley made the intentional decision to close the business. In this conversation, Ashley reflects on: * What self-trust looked like before she had confidence or proof * The loneliness and responsibility that come with leadership * Why sustaining a business for over a decade requires emotional stamina, not just strategy * How motherhood reshaped her priorities and capacity * What it meant to close a business with integrity instead of selling it * The mix of grief and relief that followed letting go * Redefining success as alignment, presence, and capacity * Creating space for creativity and life without rushing the “next step” This episode isn’t about quitting, it’s about discernment. About choosing people and principles over optics. And about trusting yourself enough to honor what was, without forcing what’s next. If you’re navigating a transition, feeling a nudge, or sitting in a season that doesn’t need to be rushed, this conversation offers language, permission, and perspective. LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE * Ashley Knepper’s Blog: A Hint of Sunshine — recipes, crafts, fashion & family life https://www.ahintofsunshine.com/ [https://www.ahintofsunshine.com/] * “14 Years in Business Marks the End” Ashley’s closing letter reflecting on intuition, timing, and choosing peace https://www.ahintofsunshine.com/post/14-years-in-business-marks-the-end [https://www.ahintofsunshine.com/post/14-years-in-business-marks-the-end] * “Selling the Building Behind the Teal Doors” A reflection on place, memory, and letting go https://www.ahintofsunshine.com/post/selling-the-building-behind-the-teal-doors [https://www.ahintofsunshine.com/post/selling-the-building-behind-the-teal-doors] * Follow Ashley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ank22/ [https://www.instagram.com/ank22/] * Find Kaitlyn and Copy Uncorked at: https://copyuncorked.com [https://copyuncorked.com] https://instagram.com/copyuncorked [https://instagram.com/copyuncorked] https://instagram.com/kaitlynhparker [https://instagram.com/kaitlynhparker]