Feeling excited about AI but also kind of overwhelmed? Same. In this episode I'm taking the hysteria down a notch and sharing exactly how I'm using AI in my business right now — in the most non-techy way I can manage.

I walk you through four practical pillars: Insights, Efficiencies, Automations, and Innovation — with real examples from my own business, including how a two-week SEO project started bringing in more organic leads and what I'm building inside Amplify that could change how clients get results.

This one's for you if you've been wanting to start with AI but don't know where to begin.

In this episode:

• Why Claude is winning over ChatGPT for me right now
• How I used AI to find the biggest gaps in my business across all my platforms
• The grunt work that used to weigh on me that AI is now handling
• The automation I'm building to turn one video into a full content suite
• What innovation actually looks like in a coaching business

Links + Resources:

• Grab the free Claude Brand Builders Guide
• Ready to amplify your personal brand and get seen as the expert you are? Learn more about working with me inside Amplify → https://www.suzchadwick.com/amplify

What does it actually mean to tell your story — not just post content and hope the right people find you?

In this episode, I'm joined by my long-time friend and storytelling expert Mackenzie Heflin for one of my favourite conversations on the podcast.

Mackenzie works with entrepreneurs and content creators to help them find their voice, shape their stories, and build real communities — not just follower counts. We get into the honest, practical, and deeply personal side of storytelling for business, and why it's the missing piece for so many founders who are creating content but still feel like they're shouting into the void.

In this episode:

• Why treating your social media feed like a private Facebook group changes everything
• How Mackenzie built a business from 400 followers — and what happened when it was all deleted overnight
• The simple before-and-after framework that works for any niche (yes, even sourdough)
• Why your story doesn't have to be dramatic to be powerful
• How to tell your story when you can't share your own — or your clients'
• The difference between authority-based content and trust-building content (and when to use each)
• Why conversion storytelling isn't about chasing engagement — it's about being ready when your audience is
• How to stop talking at your audience and start making them feel seen
• Why shame-free, desire-free marketing might actually convert better

Mackenzie's storytelling framework

Start with your before. End with your after. Everything in between is connection. Write down your struggles and your transformations — those two lists are the foundation of every piece of content you'll ever need to create.

About Mackenzie

Mackenzie Heflin is a storytelling strategist and content coach who helps entrepreneurs build engaged communities through purposeful, authentic storytelling. She got her start building a 400-person Facebook group while working in a nursing home during COVID — and has since grown a following of 70,000 by showing up consistently and telling her story with honesty and intention. She's now focused on long-form writing, Threads, and helping her clients find the stories that actually convert.

🔗 Website | Threads

What does it actually mean to manage your money in a way that supports the life you want — not just survive month to month and hope for the best?

In this episode, I'm joined by accountant and financial strategist Karen Wollen (founder of Thrive NZ) for a refreshingly practical and no-nonsense conversation about money, business growth, and what it really takes to build financial clarity as a business owner.

Karen works with SMEs and service-based businesses to help them understand their numbers, manage cash flow, and make smarter decisions — so their business actually funds the life they want to live. We get into the real, sometimes uncomfortable, and deeply important side of business finance, and why so many entrepreneurs are working hard but still feel financially stuck.

In this episode:

• Why cash flow problems aren't always what you think — and the two main culprits behind them
• The difference between profit and cash in the bank (and why confusing them is costing you)
• How to set payment terms that actually work for your business — and enforce them
• Good debt vs. bad debt, and when borrowing to grow actually makes sense
• Why fear around financial decisions is usually a data problem, not a confidence problem
• How to break down a scary hiring decision into a number you can actually work with
• The CEO mindset shift that founders resist — and why it's holding them back
• Contractors vs. employees: how to build capacity without overcommitting
• Why reconciling your Xero regularly is the single most important habit you can build
• How to use 90-day sprints to stay focused on the right financial levers

Karen's framework for financial clarity: Understand your baseline (what you need) vs. your thriving number (what you want). Know where you are now. Map what needs to change to get there. Review it every 12 months — because every business and life has seasons.

About Karen

Karen Wollen is the founder of Thrive NZ, an accounting and financial strategy firm working with small to medium businesses across New Zealand. She helps business owners cut through the fear and confusion around their finances, understand what their numbers are actually telling them, and build businesses that work — for their goals and their life. Karen is direct, practical, and deeply invested in making sure her clients aren't just profitable on paper, but genuinely thriving.

🔗 LinkedIn | Instagram | https://www.thrive.nz/