This episode marks the relaunch of the podcast under a new name and a clearer purpose.

The Solopreneur CEO Podcast is for solopreneurs who have built something real, but are carrying more of the load than they want to be. Your business works, but it depends too heavily on you. And deep down, you know it shouldn’t feel this hard.

In this first episode, Carin and Marcia share why the show was rebranded, who it’s for, and the kinds of honest conversations you can expect moving forward. This is about mindset, systems, structure, and support, without hustle culture, pressure, or pretending everything is fine.

Listen to the Episode

This kickoff episode introduces the Solopreneur CEO Podcast and the shift away from hustle-driven conversations toward something more honest and sustainable.

Carin and Marcia talk openly about what it really feels like to be a seasoned solopreneur. Loving the work, making money, and still feeling stretched thin, reactive, and on the edge of burnout. They explain why the business often becomes heavier as it grows and why that doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you.

The conversation explores the mental and emotional side of solopreneurship, the constant task switching, and the pressure of wearing every hat. You’ll hear why survival mode is often baked into the structure of a solo business and how stepping into CEO-level thinking can change how the business runs day to day.

This episode also sets the tone for the show. Real experiences. Real conversations. Saying the quiet parts out loud. And helping solopreneurs feel less alone while learning how to build businesses that support their life instead of consuming it.

What We Talk About In This Episode

• Why the podcast was rebranded to Solopreneur CEO

• Who this show is really for

• The emotional weight of being a solopreneur

• Why feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re broken

• The difference between reacting in your business and leading it

• How mindset and systems work together

• Why community and support matter more than most people admit

Key Takeaways

• You’re not doing anything wrong if your business feels heavy.

• Success often creates complexity before it creates freedom.

• Solopreneur mode is reactive by design, but it doesn’t have to stay that way.

• Leadership starts with how the business is structured, not just how hard you work.

• You don’t have to do this alone, even if you’re a solopreneur.

Continue the Conversation

If this episode made you feel seen or helped something click, you’re invited to join our free Solopreneur CEO community.

It’s a low-noise space for solopreneurs who want support, honest conversation, and a better way to build a business that works without burning out.

Episode Transcript

Solopreneur CEO Show Episode 1: Below is the full transcript of this episode for those who prefer to read or want to revisit specific parts of the conversation.

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Carin Kilby Clark:

Welcome to the Solopreneur CEO Podcast.

Marcia and I are really excited to be back at it and relaunching, so this episode feels like a really good place to start if you're new listening to the show, or if you are a long-time fan and following us over from Honest Convos you're still our person, right?

You have built something, you are doing the thing, but maybe you're kind of like…carrying more load than you want to be. And so, we are rebranded to the Solopreneur CEO, because we wanted to be very clear, like, what our podcast is for, and, like, who we're talking to.

And it is that solopreneur who is feeling a little burnt out, maybe a little over it, maybe had a dream or two about burning down your business.

But you do still love what you're doing, and you want to keep doing it. You have some success, and you enjoy the work you're doing, but you want the business to feel easier. Like, it shouldn't be this hard. You're working way too hard for the money, and so how can you just rethink your role, how you're showing up, how your business is structured, like, that's all the kind of stuff that we will talk about in the Solopreneur CEO Show.

So if you sometimes feel like maybe your business looks so successful on the outside, but on the inside, you're, like, one hour away from crumbling, then we are here, we got ya, and we are gonna talk about how to make your business actually flow and feel like the dream that you started this to have in the first place.

Marcia Sheehan:

I'm so excited to be back. And that's probably confusing for people who are just now tuning in for the first time, because we have been working on getting our…shout out to the launch team. Thank you for your willingness to help us get this out, and…tuning in. And so, if this is your first time ever hearing from us, not on social media, if it's your first time tuning into a podcast Carin and I are both very similar… We have very similar…belief systems and values, but Carin's more the left-brain systems type person, and I'm the mindset but, like, we both… we both bleed into each of… each other's expertises.

But yeah, that's what we're going to be talking about, because, as you know, as a seasoned solopreneur, there's so much mental stuff that goes into owning your own business, and… There's a lot of… Drama, there's a lot of emotions, there's a lot of task switching, and so what we want to do is validate you in every single episode, that even if you do feel like you're ready to burn it all down, like. We feel that too. And so, breaks are good, rest is good, and we just want to share with you real-world ways on how you can set up your business, the systems, and also your mindset, so that you don't ever get to that point, because I've gotten to that point, and I've burned it down, and I went and did the full-time gig stuff for a couple years, and that didn't work out, and so now I'm back, and so I, you know, we have real experience, and Carin does work full-time, and that's why she's the systems person, because she knows how to optimize the time, and the flow, and…the funnels and all of that type of stuff

So… we're so excited to be back in the saddle, and everyone that I've talked to about the new name, they're like, oh, that's great, and so… and it's like, you can actually see it, you know? Because sometimes people are like, oh, yeah, that's great,

I love this. I love that we're coming out of the gate of 2026 just ready to go, and ready to serve, and ready to help, and make everyone who listens feel like they're not doing this alone, because just because you're solo doesn't mean you have to do it alone.

Carin Kilby Clark:

Yes, that should be our tagline, like, because it really is, like you have to wear so many hats, and you have to do so many things when you're a solo entrepreneur, solopreneur, and so you can feel like, oh my god, this is crazy. Like, am I crazy? Like, what am I… what was I thinking? Like, there's so many thoughts, so I love that you said, like, it really is a… a mental game, like, when you have your own business. It's a mental… it's mental warfare, along with so many things that you have to learn and do, because you're wearing all those hats.

And we can, you know, we'll talk about all these different topics. That's what you can expect from the podcast. Like, we're really gonna dive into…the areas that people don't normally want to talk about out loud. You know, that maybe because you don't, you know, you might be in a community of other entrepreneurs, or you might have, like, friends, but maybe they… you feel like they don't quite understand your struggle, right, as a solopreneur. And so that's where we are gonna be meeting you. We'll say the quiet parts out loud.

We will talk through the issues that we've experienced, that…you know, our clients have experienced, you know, we'll share stories with their permission, of course, but, like, we want you… this to be the place where, like, you feel like you found your people, they actually get me, oh my gosh, where have you been all my life? Like, that is our… that's the, like, reason that we want to be here, is, like, to help you know that you're not the only one experiencing that, and that there's a way out of it. Like, you don't have to stay stuck in a cycle that's not serving you, or serving your business, or your vision, the life you're trying to create, the business that you set out to have.

We want that to be your reality. And so, if it's not. That's, you know, will help you kind of shift through that. And then also, like, we want you to…be in a place where you can get real-world, like, tools and tips, and, you know, so it is the mindset, the systems, really having a perfect marriage. Like, this is where you are, this is how you can get out of it, and these are some tools, and this is how you can set this up, and that kind of stuff. So, it's really about…you're not broken. There's nothing wrong with you. Like, you just… you found your people so that you can do things a little bit easier, with less stress.

And still continue to make the money, because sometimes we'll think, like, more money… I should be fine. Like, I'm making the money, what's the problem? Like, the money is coming, and then we might throw money at problems. Like, okay, I'll pay for this to get done, I'll pay for that to get done. And then when it's still not…

fixed, it's like, okay, what is… maybe I am the problem. And it's never that, but a lot of times, if you don't have something like the Solopreneur CEO Show, you might, you know, kind of get into a spiral. We call it, like, Tornado of Doom. But we don't want you to have to experience that, and so I think this show we'll be able to meet you there, and just be, like, your best friend on your podcast player.

Marcia Sheehan:

I love it, I find so much fulfillment in letting other people Feel seen, and like…it's not just me, because a lot of people don't talk about the actual mental anguish that goes into being on your own. And for me, like, when I did return back to full-time work, I…had teams, and I didn't like it. Like, I really do want to be a solopreneur. Like, this is… I'm not building an enterprise, in the future, maybe, I don't know. I have a lot of trust issues, and I just know that I can depend on myself and rely on myself, and so this is the… the business that I'm running right now.

is…how I want to be running it. And, you know, having Carin as a partner, so that's… that's another thing, you know, with the solopreneurs, you can have partners, you can have contractors, you can…have interns or whatever, so you can be working with other people, but, like, you are the operator, and I think…what we want to help you do is go from being the day-to-day operator in your business to making those leadership decisions that are gonna move the business forward.

Into whatever vision it is that you have. And so, that's a common theme you're gonna hear from us.

We do quarterly workshops every… Quarter… Before. Let myself introduce myself. That's from Austin Powers. Anyway, so every quarter, before the next quarter starts, we do an hour and a half long workshop. It's free for our Success Secret Society members, it's included in their membership cost but other people can attend, too. And then we also have a solo CEO Retreat Kit, and so one of our common themes that we stand on is that you need to step away from your business and step away from that operator roleto make these decisions that are gonna move you towards that direction. That way, it's not…every day, all the time you're in fight or flight, because that is what's gonna actually lead you to burnout. And…

We don't want you to do that, especially if, you know, you're going through life transitions, if you're going through hormonal transitions, you know, family, like, you have aging parents, or kids going off to college, or whatever. Like, we… we're in it, too, so we…are here for you. Okay.

Carin Kilby Clark:

Yeah, no, I love that you brought that part, because there, like, solopreneur mode is reactive by nature, because you have to wear so many hats, you have to think of so many different things, you are almost, like, by design, constantly reacting to what is happening. And if you don't have systems in place, that makes it hard, because you are probably manually doing a lot of things in a short time. Like, say, you know, you don't have a system for whatever process, if you're selling, like, a coaching program and someone applies, and then now you have to go do a bunch of stuff. You know what I mean? So you're reacting to the application, versus, like, if you have the system set up it could be a smooth process that doesn't even involve you until you have to get on the phone with them, you know what I mean? Like, they could apply, they could receive the email, they could set up the call, whatever the steps are. Like, that's the kind of stuff that…CEOs would think about. Like, how do I set up this business to run without me having to do things? Like, and so that's a lot of what we'll talk about, too, is like thinking about the structure, and not just the execution.

And a lot of times, you're gonna be focused on execution when you're a solopreneur, because it has to get done, and you're the only one that can do it, because you're a solopreneur. So it's kind of, like, by design, right? So, that's, I think, when we thought about the name and, like, the purpose of this podcast, like, solopreneur CEO. It's like, you're… we're not saying don't be a solopreneur, and now you have to be a CEO of a Fortune 500 company. Like, not that at all.

We're just trying to help you blend, like, some of that CEO structure, and thinking, and designing the business, and being proactive into your solopreneur day-to-day. And so I think it is gonna be, a really fun for those who are new to us. You know, hopefully, you know, you will… we're very real here, by the way. Like, we are not gonna be fluffin', we are not gonna be BSing.

We really just come with the real experiences that we've had, and we really talk through stuff.

Like, we are just not super polished and scripted, and that, I think, is what sets us apart. Like, we are not… like, you can get that from, you know, some AI-generated YouTube video. Like, we are not trying to be that.

So, you know, this is, like, the place for the real life, the real advice, the real day-to-day. Talking about how to stay in your solopreneur mode, but bring some of that CEO structure, decision making, and all of that.

Marcia Sheehan:

Yeah, so I think… you're gonna like it here, because, like Carin said, we're not…performative. Like, we're not… trying to…have you depict us in a certain light, you know? We… we have our struggles, we know you have your struggles, we've been doing, like, combined, we've been in business for over 20 years, you know, we both started around 2012, 2013, and so this is just the common thread that we've seen.

With, solopreneurs, business owners, small business owners, whatever, like, everybody, like, everybody's going through, you know, the… the darkness at times, and so…

So that's okay, but like…Just because you're used to the rollercoaster of being a solopreneur doesn't mean that it has to be that way, right? So, like, we all have growth mindsets, and we all want to tweak and tinker around. And so, like, you wanting to build sustainability in your business, that's not making you ungrateful for what has gotten you to where you are now.

I think something that can hold people back from… wanting to…step into that CEO role is that… It might not even just be that they're in the day-to-day, it might be that It feels like…

they're trying to step away from the pain that happens with growth? I don't know, this is… I feel like this is kinda…out there, but… I think people just get used to…having that negative emotion from growing in business, and thinking, like, this is normal, and it is normal, because every stage of growth, there… there is pain, but it's like, don't stay attached to…the same type of pain. So, like, create the systems and the sustainability in your business so that you are experiencing a different kind of pain.

Carin, can you make that make sense, please?

Carin Kilby Clark:

It totally makes sense, because what you're saying is, like, you're gonna have pain and discomfort either way, like, both ways. So, you have to choose. Choose your hard, right? I've heard that before, I don't remember whose quote that is, but, like, choose your hard. It's hard either way, but do you want it to be hard, and you kind of feel stuck? Or do you want it to be hard, and it feels, like, more ease? Like, you have the ease and the hard. I don't know. We'll have to unpack more as we talk in the podcast, but…it really is, like, nothing about owning your own business is easy, and we're not here to try and sell you a bill of goods that, you know, we're gonna just make this, like, oh, low effort, you know, you can just be sleeping at night, and on the beach with your laptop, and ding, ding, ding. Like, yes, that can still happen. I mean, you can still be getting your Stripe notifications, don't get me wrong. But, you still have work to do. There is gonna be work to do in your business.

And what we want to help you do is just do the work that really, really needs your full energy, your full self. And then things that don't need your full energy and full self, we can automate, or systematize, or delegate, or, you know, that kind of… We don't want you to feel like you have to literally, personally, do every single thing in your business.

So, yeah, I mean…And the emotional rollercoaster is real. It just is. I think there's, like, a meme about that, like, you know, the emotional rollercoaster in one day of, like, the emotions you can be feeling as an entrepreneur. It's kind of crazy. Like, we're crazy if we choose this, right? So I guess we're all crazy. So we're crazy together, and I don't know if that's a PC word anymore, but we'll just pretend like I'm not offending anyone. I'm so sorry if you hate the word crazy.

It's just, we're… we're gonna have to do things in our business, and we're gonna have to step into areas that we probably are not comfortable completely in when we first try it on.

And that's okay, but that's why it's important to have a, like, we really love having our society, because that is a place where we have, like, even deeper, if you can imagine, even more real conversations about this stuff. Everyone signs an NDA, so you can be totally masked off.

Because it's hard. It is. It is hard. And so, but your… the day-to-day of your business doesn't have to be as hard if you have some of those systems in place, and you really work on that mindset and being in CEO mode. So that's kind of where we are going to meet you in these conversations.

Marcia Sheehan:

Yeah, I love that, the choose your hard, so…

Yeah, I mean, choose your hard, but also find yourself in community with other people that are also evolving and growing and changing things up and optimizing, and then it's not as difficult, because you have people who are raising their hand and saying, me too, so…

Carin Kilby Clark:

So yeah, so we're gonna talk all about that, the mindset, the systems, the structure, and the support. We are not gonna talk about hustling, we are not gonna talk about being more burnt out, and we're definitely not gonna talk about just do more, do more, do more. That's just not our style. But we're really glad that you're here.

And we will see you in the next episode.