EP:56 | Katie Rudicil - "Discovering Your Niche: Lessons from the Influencer Journey"

EP:56 | Katie Rudicil - "Discovering Your Niche: Lessons from the Influencer Journey"

From Corporate Buyer to Creator: Katie Rudicil on Leaving Retail, Finding a Niche, and Staying Consistent on TikTok. This week on The Hype Squad, Charli welcomes Katie Rudicil to discuss Katie’s transition from a 15-year career as a corporate buyer for retailers including Zulily, Lane Bryant, Victoria’s Secret, and Ashley Furniture to pursuing content creation and rebuilding her online boutique, Katie Lizzy. Katie shares feeling trapped in the corporate mindset, wanting “something more,” and the challenges of full-time influencing, including burnout, consistency, algorithm uncertainty, and fear of judgment and perfectionism. They unpack what made a three-second Dunkin’ drive-thru hair video go viral, debate influencer haul backlash and shadowbanning, and explore strategies like going live, posting timing, and focusing on story-driven, relatable content—especially for current or post-corporate women. Katie also recounts moving from Ohio to Florida on a whim during the pandemic and ends by bragging about being a risk-taker. Connect with Katie:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: @‌katierudicil Connect with Charli: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.charlimcconnell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/]Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/charli_mcconnell_co/] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cmco.womenscoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/charlimcconnellco] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@‌charli_mcconnell_co [https://www.tiktok.com/@charli_mcconnell_co]

EP:55 | Leah Morrison - "From Matchmaker to Interior Designer: A Journey of Purpose"

This week on The Hype Squad, Charli welcomes Leah Morrison, founder of Serenity Design Interiors, who shares how repeated moves in Rhode Island helped her develop interior design skills and confidence. Leah describes her intuitive process for understanding clients’ styles, using mood boards and optional 3D renderings, and handling shopping and returns, while advocating for color and personality over all-white trends. She discusses inspiration sources like HomeGoods, Hobby Lobby, World Market, local shops, and plants, and explains how she curated an Arizona-inspired “Oasis” home after purging most belongings when moving to Auburn. Leah also explains her prior work as a professional matchmaker arranging blind dates, draws parallels to “matching” people with spaces, emphasizes rest and weekly Sabbath practices, and brags about being unapologetically herself, shaped by her faith and a transformative year living in Germany. Connect with Leah Morrison: Instagram: @serenity_designinteriors [https://www.instagram.com/serenity_designinteriors/tagged/] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Serenity Design Interiors [https://www.facebook.com/people/Serenity-Design-Interiors/61581398467793/?rdid=eVjcUDjYJONmGFNq&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1ALfxnksZs%2F] Connect with Charli: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.charlimcconnell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/]Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/charli_mcconnell_co/] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cmco.womenscoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/charlimcconnellco] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@‌charli_mcconnell_co [https://www.tiktok.com/@charli_mcconnell_co]

EP:54 | Jean Brunson - "Uncovering Beauty: Photography and Self-Love"

In this episode of The Hype Squad, Charli chats with Jean Brunson, owner of Jean Brunson Photography, to discuss the art of creating empowering photographic experiences. Jean shares insights into her background, ranging from being a backpacking guide to transitioning to studio photography and ultimately specializing in boudoir and fine art photography. The conversation touches on the importance of feeling seen and valued, the complexities of posing for the camera, the significance of embracing one's body, and the journey of self-discovery. Jean and Charli also explore the challenges of social media in marketing their businesses and emphasize the transformative power of professional photo shoots. Connect with Jean Brunson: Instagram: @jeanbrunsonphotography [https://www.instagram.com/jeanbrunsonphotography/] Website: jeanbrunsonphotography.com [https://www.jeanbrunsonphotography.com/] Facebook: jeanbrunsonphotography [https://www.facebook.com/jeanbrunsonphotography] Connect with Charli: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.charlimcconnell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/]Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/charli_mcconnell_co/] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cmco.womenscoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/charlimcconnellco] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@‌charli_mcconnell_co [https://www.tiktok.com/@charli_mcconnell_co]

EP:53 | Dr. Marcy Crouch - "Pelvic Health and Beyond: Real Talk on Women's Wellness"

In this episode of the Hype Squad Podcast, Charli sits down with Dr. Marcy Crouch, a board-certified Women's Health Physical Therapist and TEDx speaker, to discuss her mission to normalize pelvic health. Dr. Crouch shares her experiences transitioning from working in a traditional medical setting to owning her own business, providing valuable insights into the challenges and successes of entrepreneurship.   They delve into various topics, including the importance of pelvic floor health, effective pushing techniques during childbirth, and the significant role of supportive environments for women in professional and personal spheres. Dr. Crouch also reveals her exciting new venture—a two-book deal aimed at providing women with comprehensive, relevant guides to birth and postpartum care.   This episode is packed with real talk, practical advice, and inspirational moments designed to empower women. Connect with Dr. Marcy Crouch: https://www.thedowntheredoc.com/product/down-there-done-right-bundle-course/ [https://www.thedowntheredoc.com/product/down-there-done-right-bundle-course/] Instagram: @thedowntheredoc [https://www.instagram.com/thedowntheredoc/#] Tiktok: @thedowntheredoc [https://www.tiktok.com/@thedowntheredoc?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc] Connect with Charli: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.charlimcconnell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/]Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/charli_mcconnell_co/] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cmco.womenscoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/charlimcconnellco] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@‌charli_mcconnell_co [https://www.tiktok.com/@charli_mcconnell_co]

EP:52 | Ayesha Ali - "Redefining Versatility in Fashion"

In this episode, Charli welcomes Ayesha Ali, the designer and entrepreneur behind Fuse the Denim. Ayesha shares the inspiring journey of creating her brand, which simplifies women's wardrobes with transformable and confidence-driven denim. The conversation delves into Ayesha's passion for design, her challenges and triumphs in launching Fuse, and her deep-rooted connection to fashion that began in her childhood in Pakistan. Ayesha also discusses the significant role community and authentic connections have played in her brand’s success and how her unique design process, including the innovative use of zippers, sets her jeans apart. This episode is a testament to resilience, creativity, and the power of following one's passion. Connect with Ayesha Aki Instagram: @‌fusethedenim [https://www.instagram.com/fusethedenim/] & @‌ayesha.ali.design [https://www.instagram.com/ayesha.ali.design/] Website: ayeshaalidesign.com [https://ayeshaalidesign.com/] & ayeshaalidesign.com/collections/fuse-the-denim [https://ayeshaalidesign.com/collections/fuse-the-denim] Email: info@ayeshaalidesign.com [info@ayeshaalidesign.com] Connect with Charli: Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.charlimcconnell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/] ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://charlimcconnell.com/]Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/charli_mcconnell_co/] Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠cmco.womenscoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/charlimcconnellco] TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@‌charli_mcconnell_co⁠⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@charli_mcconnell_co]