Saying no can feel uncomfortable, but when done with love and intention, it becomes one of the most powerful ways to honor your energy and create space for what truly matters.

I know how hard it can be to say no—especially when you're someone who wants to show up, perform, and please. But here's the truth: when we say no to what drains us, we create space for joy, alignment, and our true selves to shine. In this episode, I’m sharing my own journey of learning to release guilt around saying no and how doing so made me feel lighter, freer, and more whole.

Action Plan:

- Honor your body’s whispers: Fatigue and tension are signals, not glitches—listen and respond with care.

- Let go of what no longer fits: Release outdated roles or expectations to make room for the real you.

- Choose alignment over logic: A choice that feels right may not always make sense on paper—and that’s okay.

- Trust your inner signals: When joy fades or your breath shortens, it’s time to reassess what you're saying yes to.

- Set loving boundaries: Boundaries aren’t barriers—they are invitations for peace and clarity.

More from Megan

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Megan chats with Jessie from Life as a Strawberry about strategic hiring, thoughtful systems, and what it really takes to grow a food blog into a thriving, values-driven business.

Jessie Johnson is the founder of Life As A Strawberry, a food and recipe site that shares well-tested recipes for weeknight comfort food. Her team is known for breaking complicated recipes and techniques into accessible, easy-to-follow action steps. Jessie grew up working in catering and community kitchens, and spent her academic career studying sustainable food systems and food security. After grad school, Jessie went full-time with Life As A Strawberry and never looked back. Today, Life As A Strawberry is a full-fledged media company with multiple verticals - including Everyday Artisan Bread, an online bread-baking course - and team members across the country.

This episode is packed with gold for food bloggers ready to level up—from creating sustainable systems to building a team that supports long-term success. Jessie gets real about burnout, hiring with intention, onboarding like a pro, and why “should” isn’t always a good enough reason. Whether you’re still flying solo or scaling a business, you’ll walk away with fresh motivation and practical tools.

Key points discussed include:

- Time tracking tells the truth: Find out what you're really spending time on.

- Your first hire matters most: How to choose—and afford—the right support.

- Teams cost more than you think: Jessie breaks down the hidden expenses.

- Content planning can spark joy: Use her “Model T” system to balance strategy and fun.

- A “no list” saves your sanity: Protect your time by deciding what you won’t do.

- Onboarding isn’t an afterthought: Create systems once—then hire with ease.

- Letting go unlocks growth: Even when it’s work you love, it might be holding you back.

- Ignore the rules: Jessie built success without Instagram, and you can too.

Connect with Jessie Johnson

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Want more clicks from your pins? It starts with understanding what “fresh content” really means on Pinterest today. In episode 722, Laura Rike teaches us how to use fresh pins, vertical video, and smart AI practices to grow our reach and stay ahead of Pinterest’s evolving algorithm.

Laura Rike is a Pinterest Strategist and owner of SimplyPintastic® who helps entrepreneurs and content creators increase online sales and sign more clients with the power of Pinterest utilizing organic methods and scaling with ads. She has helped clients and students bring in over 50k+ in monthly revenue. Her clients have become industry leaders with 6-figure businesses and are growing sustainably by ranking on the first page of Google and getting targeted email leads daily. Laura has been featured on Social Media Examiner, Tailwind, MeetEdgar, Agorapulse and Ecamm Network.

Get practical tips for creating pins that perform, without falling into outdated habits or risky shortcuts.

Key points discussed include:

- Why video pins still matter: And how to make them work with minimal effort.

- What “fresh pins” actually are: It’s more than swapping out text.

- The best pin sizes to test now: Layout and dimensions that catch eyes.

- The truth about AI-generated images: What’s safe (and what’s not) on Pinterest.

- AI copy? Yes—but do this first: Use it smartly without harming performance.

- You can stop stressing over schedulers: Which ones to use and why it no longer matters.

- How to revive older content with ease: Use collages, roundups, and strategic repins.

Connect with Laura Rike

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