Carving out your own path as a business owner demands a little rule breaking from time to time. Whether it’s a social norm or personal directive, it’s easy for our ways of being to spiral down the rabbit hole from routine to rule to barrier to success. If you find yourself stuck in that place, it’s time to start poking holes in your modus operandi.


We’ll be the first to admit this process isn’t easy 一 breaking rules is an exercise in resiliency. 

Routines can be comforting, but placing the rules and assumptions you operate from under a microscope allows you to uncover new approaches to old problems and hidden roadblocks. This episode, join us as we explore the lessons we’ve learned by not playing by the rules.

When Should You Not Play by the Rules?

We've all seen internet trolls who jump straight to outrage without understanding the full story. But here's the uncomfortable truth: We all do this sometimes. In our everyday work and relationships, we jump to conclusions, assign motives, or make decisions based on half the story. It's human nature to want to find an explanation and solve problems quickly, but that instinct can backfire spectacularly.

In this episode, we dig into why our brains are so quick to fill in the gaps with assumptions — often wrong ones. Sharing real examples from our work-lives, we explore what's really happening when we assume the worst and talk about practical ways to slow down, ask better questions, and let curiosity lead instead of assumptions. Because when you take the time to get the full picture, you'll find better outcomes every time.

The Danger of Jumping to Conclusions

Every business has budget constraints, but here's what we've learned: cheap and affordable aren't the same thing. Cheap is about paying as little as possible; affordable is about getting the most value for the right price. One leaves you wanting more, the other leaves you satisfied with smart trade-offs that actually move your business forward.

In this episode, we break down how to spot the warning signs of "cheap" and share practical ways to identify affordable options in the creative industry. We explore why expertise often equals affordability, how good planning saves money in the long run, and what to look for in partners who understand your business goals. From understanding the hidden costs of cutting corners to making smart investments in creative problem solving, we give you a framework for budget decisions that actually serve your long-term success.

The Difference Between Affordable and Cheap

Video marketing isn't what it used to be — and that's both exciting and overwhelming. Between short-form content, interactive features, immersive experiences, and personalized feeds, the landscape is evolving at breakneck speed. But here's the thing: tracking video trends isn't about keeping up with every shiny new feature. It's about staying strategic and knowing which tools actually serve your brand's goals.

In this episode, Karen breaks down the current state of video marketing, from foundational content that builds trust over time to disposable content designed for immediate impact. Whether you're just getting started with video or looking to refine your strategy, this episode gives you the framework to make smarter decisions about where to invest your time and budget in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Case Study: Video Marketing Trends with Render

If you’re like us, some days your desk looks like a command center. Other days, it looks like a scrap pile of to-do lists, personal reminders, and ideas in progress. The reality is, most of us don't have a perfect system for prioritization — and that's especially true when we're overwhelmed, which is ironically when we need one most.

In this candid episode, we compare notes on our different approaches to staying organized, from digital versus paper systems to the power of setting tomorrow's priorities before you go to bed tonight. Tune in as we sort through organizational struggles, share what's working (and what isn't), and admit that sometimes we don't have it all figured out — but we're learning as we go.

How We Prioritize Our Day

Sometimes the best lessons come from losing something you thought you needed. When Karen lost her Facebook page and realized it wasn't the end of the world, it sparked a bigger conversation about how we approach social media strategy. The truth is, most of us are maintaining profiles on platforms that aren't moving the needle while scrambling to keep up with whatever trendy app just launched.

In this episode, we get real about multi-channel social media strategy and why quality beats quantity every single time. We explore why different audiences live on different platforms, and why expecting one channel to do everything for everyone is a recipe for mediocre results. This isn't about abandoning social media — it's about using it strategically, focusing your energy where it actually matters, and showing up consistently in the places where your audience is already paying attention. Sometimes letting go is the most strategic move you can make.

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#creativity #socialmedia #socialmediastrategy #smallbusiness #creativeindustry #podcast #midwestpodcast #michiganpodcast #workpodcast #marketing #videography #career #cocktail


Get Selective With Your Social Media Strategy

If you've ever wondered whether investing in brand awareness is actually worth it, this episode is for you. We dig into why brand awareness gets dismissed as too "soft" to measure, how to actually track it in meaningful ways, and why prioritizing it can transform your marketing results. The reality is simple: customers acquired through product marketing leave the moment a better deal comes along. Customers who connect with your brand stick around, advocate for you, and drive long-term growth that compounds over time. We share practical strategies for building awareness that matters and explain why this underrated metric deserves more of your attention and budget.

Case Study: Building Brand Awareness with Redhead

Think about how different perspectives create magic. The best friend groups, book clubs, and communities outside of work aren’t just “life hacks” or productivity tools — but what they offer is far more powerful. They support you, balance you, and push you to grow. The real value of shared-interest communities isn’t in everyone nodding along; it’s in what happens when different minds meet. You spark new ideas, make meaningful relationships, and create spaces for healthy debate. In this episode, we share stories from our own book clubs and explore why finding your crew — the people who challenge and champion you — is one of the best investments you can make in yourself.

Book Clubs and Other Life Hacks

In a creative slump? Hit the road - seriously. New places and new experiences stimulate your brain. They expose you to different ways of thinking, new cultures, and alternative approaches to solving problems. In this episode, we dig into why it's important to leave your zip code, both for personal growth and for your community's reputation. We share stories about how traveling can spark creativity, provide cultural awareness, and help you see the bigger picture beyond your usual context. But there's another layer: when you leave, you become an evangelist for where you're from. No one can choose your town if they don't know about it. By getting out and sharing your story, you're putting your community on the map. Tune in as we make the case that sometimes the best creative strategy is a road trip.

Get Out of Your Zip Code

When you're working with an expert production team, you should expect them to ask you hard questions — particularly upfront in the planning stages. Those difficult questions aren't obstacles; they're what lead to a better final product. But knowing what to look for in a production partner and how to navigate the process can make all the difference between simply checking a box and creating work that truly resonates.
In this episode, Karen breaks down how to approach video production with clarity and purpose. Drawing insights from Render Studios' approach to partnering with clients, we explore the importance of starting with strategy first, understanding the different skill sets involved in production, and building trust throughout the process. Tune in as we demystify the production process and how to find the right creative partner to maximize the value of your investment.

Case Study: Making the Most of a Production Team with Render Studios

There's a special kind of frustration that comes when you realize you're working harder on someone else's project than they are. The meetings where they're distracted, the feedback that arrives three weeks late, the sudden flood of opinions after months of silence — these aren't just annoying inconveniences. They're symptoms of a deeper problem that impacts everything from creative quality to team morale to actual ROI.

In this episode, we explore the uncomfortable reality of working with disengaged clients and why it matters more than you might think. We break down the root causes — from burnout and fragmentation to simple lack of understanding about what good collaboration requires — and examine how disengagement creates a ripple effect that damages the work, the process, and the people involved. But this isn't just about venting frustrations. Tune in as we share practical approaches for reigniting client engagement, from reframing conversations around outcomes to establishing clear decision-makers and structured review phases, and most importantly, how to protect your team's energy and the project's integrity.


When Your Clients Want to Phone It In

Hi. Jen Estill and Karen Stefl here. In The Speak Easy Podcast, we share years of expertise in marketing, branding, video production, strategy—not to mention management, employee development, mentoring, sales, creativity, maintaining life balance, managing money, and.. you get the idea. It takes a lot to keep a couple of creative studios thriving. 

We developed this podcast after years of "how do you..." boss lady conversations. It was clear that if we were both in such similar places with regard to business growth, and personal growth, and work/life/motherhood/bossland balance, then other women may be, too. We'd been sharing confessions over cocktails for quite a while—solving problems, asking for advice, and whispering the secret fears and disappointments that successful women are never supposed to have. (You've had those, right? It's not just us?)

Thus, Speak Easy was born. Our goal and our promise is to speak with honesty about the challenges that experienced women in the creative industry face. To create a community where we can support one another and abandon the mantra that we put on a good face and make it look like we have it all together, even when we don't. You can expect honesty, complete vulnerability and even a good laugh.

And cocktails. You can expect cocktails.

When Should You Not Play by the Rules?

The Speak Easy Podcast

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