A Great Curiosity

About A Great Curiosity

I'm talking with inspiring humans about stepping into their gifts, navigating challenges, and creating meaningful lives and businesses. jillianbremer.substack.com (https://jillianbremer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Jillian Bremer

Category

arts · business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Sept 2025

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

6 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   A Great Curiosity Podcast — My Sister, Janelle

   Welcome back to A Great Curiosity, a podcast where we explore the highs, the lows, and everything in between on the journey of entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal growth. This is a space for honest conversations, reflection, and discovering meaning in the messy, beautiful process of becoming. Today’s episode is a little different—and very special to me—because my guest is my sister, Janelle (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-bremer/) (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-bremer/)Bremer (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-bremer/). We grew up in a small town in Western New York, stocking shelves at our grandparents’ hardware store, painting houses with our dad, and picking cherries on a farm. Eventually we left for college. I went to Syracuse University and eventually found my way into fashion and retail. Janelle studied accounting at Case Western Reserve, moved around a bit, and eventually landed in Hawaii with a duffel bag and no real plan. Along the way, our paths crossed again in my tiny basement apartment in Pittsburgh, where we spent our free time reading business books, cooking gluten free, taking outfit photos for my tumblr blog, and dreaming up questionable business ideas—including an underwear company we got far enough into developing that there was an actual prototype board involved. And then, we both became entrepreneurs. I started Sweet & Spark after spending a summer antiquing with our dad. Janelle started cooking meals out of her apartment for women at her CrossFit gym—a side project that eventually became Good Clean Food Hawaii (https://www.gcfhawaii.com/), a company she would build and run for more than a decade and eventually sell. What followed were two very different but constantly intertwining entrepreneurial journeys. We watched each other start with almost nothing. Build teams. Find money. Open physical spaces. Make mistakes. Navigate partnerships. Hit the limits of our own resourcefulness. And eventually face the much harder question of what happens when you can keep something going—but aren’t sure you want to anymore. Janelle has also been a quiet force behind so much of my own entrepreneurial journey. She invested in Sweet & Spark, helped me build the financial systems I still use today, and sat beside me during some of the hardest decisions I’ve ever had to make in business. And I’ve had the incredible privilege of watching her life evolve too—from cooking meals in her tiny apartment kitchen, to building a real operation in Hawaii, getting her MBA, opening another business in Florida, eventually selling Good Clean Food, and now pursuing a PhD studying entrepreneurship itself. We’ve spent nearly fifteen years living these stories beside each other but we don’t often spend very much time actually sitting down and making sense of them. So that’s what we did in this episode! Together, We Explore: * Where Our Entrepreneurial Instincts Came From: Growing up in a family of small business owners, leaving our small hometown, discovering entirely different worlds through college and travel, living together in Pittsburgh, and the early experiments that taught us we could actually make things ourselves. * Starting Before You Know What You’re Building: Neither Sweet & Spark nor Good Clean Food began with a grand business plan. We talk about following what caught our attention, starting with the resources we had, and how experiments—antiquing with Dad for me, meal prepping for friends for Janelle—eventually became real businesses. * The Limits of Resourcefulness: We are both very good at figuring things out. But eventually, our businesses became bigger than what sheer effort could solve. We talk about hiring teams, creating systems, accessing capital, understanding your numbers, and learning that growth requires a completely different set of skills than starting. * Separating Yourself From Your Business: This might be my favorite thread of the conversation. Janelle helped me understand during one of the hardest chapters of Sweet & Spark that I had a future separate from the business. We talk about the difference between asking “Can I keep going?” and “Do I actually want to?”—and what staying with a business asks of your time, money, energy, and life. * Partnerships, Pivots & Starting Again: We both eventually experimented with building alongside other people and learned that partnership comes with its own opportunities and challenges. Janelle shares what happened when she left Hawaii, started a wine bar with a friend in Florida, and found herself navigating an entirely different kind of entrepreneurial ending. * What Entrepreneurship Has Taught Us About Being Human: Today, our work has strangely converged again. Janelle is pursuing a PhD studying entrepreneurial careers and wellbeing, while I’ve found my way into coaching, writing, and helping people better understand how they’re uniquely wired to work and create. After all these years of building businesses, we’re both now trying—in very different ways—to understand and support the person behind the business. Entrepreneurship has given both of us incredible freedom, possibility, challenge, heartbreak, confidence, and a much deeper understanding of ourselves. But maybe one of its greatest lessons has been learning that being capable of making something work doesn’t mean you’re obligated to keep making it work forever. Sometimes the business changes. Sometimes you change. And sometimes everything you learned building one thing becomes the raw material for whatever you’re meant to build next. I’m really grateful to have a sister who has been a rock beside me, and I’m very curious to see where both of our paths take us next. Maybe someday we’ll finally work together or live near each other. Oh and, maybe there will be a puppy in my future too! You can connect with Janelle on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/janelle-bremer/). You can also listen to A Great Curiosity on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-great-curiosity/id1849715220) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/42EJOlzPzEwVonaijP8PbO). Past Episodes: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jillianbremer.substack.com (https://jillianbremer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   14 Apr 2026

   A Great Curiosity Podcast- Jamie Lewin of Vetted Mag

   Welcome back to A Great Curiosity, a podcast where we explore the highs, the lows, and everything in between on the journey of entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal growth. This is a space for honest conversations, reflection, and discovering meaning in the messy, beautiful process of becoming. Today, I’m joined by my dear friend Jamie (https://www.instagram.com/jamienyc/), a designer, stylist, and editor whose eye for detail, filtering, and styling have shaped her mission with Vetted Mag (https://www.vettedmag.com/) today. Jamie and I have known each other for years. We met through friends in the retail industry and collaborated many years ago when she was the head of design at Piperlime (anyone miss that brand?). Together, we designed a vintage inspired jewelry collection featuring some of the most iconic 80s styles and motifs! I’m grateful for industry friends- especially those that span from retail into entrepreneurship- and could chat for days about happenings, trends, and learnings. In this conversation, we talk openly about the inner workings of the design industry, building a point of view that reflects who you truly are, and how to balance intuition with data. Jamie has such a vast understanding of the retail and design landscape and what goes into building an editorial ecosystem. I’m so excited to share this episode with you! Together, We Explore: * The Evolution of a Creative Career: Jamie reflects on her journey from working with major brands like Marc Jacobs, Armani, Ralph Lauren, and Gap, to landing her dream job at Piperlime, and eventually creating Vetted, a platform that reflects her perspective on style, curation, and shopping. * Building Skills & Developing Your POV: We discuss how cultivating creative skills—whether styling, writing, or visual curation—takes time and experience. Jamie shares how developing a POV and staying aligned with her authentic self has allowed her to create a platform that resonates deeply with a psychographic of people all ages. She’s a big fan of mixing high and low, buying fewer and better and also playing with tension in your style. * Following Intuition & Saying No: From determining what content to publish on Vetted to knowing when to pivot your focus, Jamie emphasizes the importance of listening to your intuition, following what feels alive and current, and saying no to distractions. “Staying in your lane”, she explains, keeps her energy moving and ensures her work stays aligned with her bigger vision. * Having A Big Vision: More than anything, this conversation is about dreaming big, not believing in failure, and the importance of creative collaboration in meaningful growth. Jamie’s story is a reminder that progress often comes through not being afraid to try new things! This episode is a celebration of standing in what you believe in even when it’s challenging. Jamie’s journey is intentional, inspiring, and honest, and I’m so grateful to share her story with you. You can connect with Jamie (https://www.instagram.com/jamienyc/) on Substack (https://vettedmag.substack.com/), Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/vettedmag/), and her main website (https://www.vettedmag.com/). You can now also listen to A Great Curiosity on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-great-curiosity/id1849715220) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/42EJOlzPzEwVonaijP8PbO). Listen To Past Episodes: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jillianbremer.substack.com (https://jillianbremer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   24 Mar 2026

   A Great Curiosity Podcast with Natalie Burrow: Web Designer, Writer, & Mother

   Welcome back to A Great Curiosity About You, a podcast where we explore the highs, the lows, and everything in between on the journey of entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal growth. This is a space for honest conversations, reflection, and discovering meaning in the messy, beautiful process of becoming. Today, I’m joined by my dear friend Natalie Burrow (https://nataliecburrow.com/), a web designer, writer, and mother of four, whose energy and wisdom inspire so many. She’s the creative engine behind my branding and website. Natalie and I have known each other for years, and even though we don’t live near each other anymore, we still make time to visit and have long phone dates that always leave us buzzing with ideas and reflections. Of course, we both naturally showed up wearing denim shirts—which feels fitting, considering we share the same four greatest gifts in Human Design! Over time, I’ve watched her channel her curiosity, creativity, and personal power into building a career that integrates branding, design, and writing—all while being deeply devoted to family life. Her 4/6 Manifestor energy is beyond contagious! In this conversation, we talk openly about creative reinvention, the importance of cultivating skills that serve your future self, and the ways personal power and agency carry us through the challenges of building a life and career on our own terms. Together, We Explore: * Following Your Intuition: Natalie reflects on her journey from blogging to discovering web design as a career path. She shares how side projects, curiosity, and small creative steps often lead to bigger opportunities—even when the destination isn’t immediately clear. * Building Skills: We discuss how learning new creative skills—whether building your own website or learning photography—can become a long-term investment in your future. Natalie shares how understanding and relating deeply with people is a key part of her design process, and how that allows her to create powerful brands that reflect her clients’ energy—brands they can truly stand in and build upon. * Embracing Choice & Agency: Natalie and I talk about the power of self-leadership, personal responsibility, and agency. As entrepreneurs, the ability to choose where to place our energy—and how to respond to challenges—is what keeps us resilient and moving forward, even when the path feels uncertain. * Shifting Energy & Creating Harmony: From somatic work to self-care, Natalie shares how tending to her body and energy has transformed her creativity, confidence, and daily life. We explore how tending to the foundations of daily life—sunshine, movement, food, and rest—creates the conditions for sustainable growth. She also shares a powerful perspective on how to let creativity move through the everyday rhythms of life and motherhood. * Finding Wholeness: More than anything, this conversation is about integrating multiple parts of ourselves—our creative ambitions, our personal power, and our family life—into a cohesive, sustainable way of living and working. Natalie’s story is a reminder that meaningful progress often comes through curiosity, patience, and trust in the process. This episode is a celebration of creativity, agency, and the reality of building a life and career that feels aligned with who you truly are. Natalie’s journey is inspiring, honest, and deeply thoughtful, and I’m so grateful to share her story (and our friendship) with you. Let the wisdom flow! You can connect with Natalie on Substack (https://nataliecburrow.substack.com/) or Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/nataliecburrow/), and also explore her design services on her website (https://nataliecburrow.com/). You can now also listen to A Great Curiosity About You on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-great-curiosity/id1849715220) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/42EJOlzPzEwVonaijP8PbO). Listen To Past Episodes: This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jillianbremer.substack.com (https://jillianbremer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

4. 

   28 Dec 2025

   A Great Curiosity About You- Shari Ivler of Graze New York

   Welcome back to A Great Curiosity About You, a podcast where we explore the highs, the lows, and everything in between on the journey of entrepreneurship, creativity, and personal growth. This is a space for honest conversations, reflection, and discovering meaning in the messy, beautiful process of becoming. Today, I’m joined by Shari Ivler, the founder of Graze New York (https://www.grazenewyork.com/), a food board business specializing in boutique catering and event styling based in Westchester, New York. Shari and I have known each other for years—as a longtime client, friend, and fellow Syracuse alums (even though our paths didn’t cross at the same time). Over the past couple of years, I’ve had a front-row seat to her evolution as an entrepreneur, watching her build a business rooted in beauty, hospitality, and mindfulness. In this conversation, we talk honestly about the real entrepreneurial journey: the reinventions, the risks, the moments of doubt, and what it takes to keep going when the path isn’t linear. Shari shares how her career began in retail, how she followed her curiosity beyond what she originally trained for, and how that ever-winding path ultimately led her to create a business that reflects what she genuinely loves. Together, We Explore: * Following the Thread: Shari reflects on her early career in retail and the gradual, intuitive shifts that pulled her toward food, styling, and hospitality—often before she could fully explain why. We talk about trusting the through-line even when the destination isn’t clear yet. * Building Something Personal: From food boards to boutique events, Graze New York is an extension of Shari’s eye, taste, and vision for an experience. We discuss what it’s like to build a business that feels deeply personal and the vulnerability that comes with putting your creativity out into the world. * Being Scared and Doing It Anyway: Imposter syndrome doesn’t disappear before you begin—it softens through the experience of doing. Shari shares how she’s met this challenge again and again at different stages of her evolution, and how much joy can live on the other side of fear. * Following Her Gut: As a 6/2 Sacral Generator, Shari shares powerful moments of staying true to herself while strengthening her boundaries around saying no. We talk about honoring seasons of rest, as well as recognizing when it’s time to go all in on an idea that sparks something alive in you. * Keeping Going on the Wild Ride: More than anything, this conversation is about resilience. We talk about staying connected to why you started, allowing your business to evolve authentically without forcing it, and giving yourself permission to change as you grow. This episode is a reminder that success rarely looks like a straight line—and that meaning often reveals itself in hindsight. Shari’s journey is thoughtful, honest, and quietly powerful, and I’m so grateful to share her story with you. And if you don’t already follow her on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/graze_newyork/?hl=en), it’s bursting with delightful inspiration. You can now also listen to A Great Curiosity About You on Apple Podcasts (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-great-curiosity-about-you/id1849715220) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/42EJOlzPzEwVonaijP8PbO). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jillianbremer.substack.com (https://jillianbremer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

5. 

   7 Nov 2025

   A Great Curiosity About YOU- Katie Kuhn of It's A Long Story

   Welcome back to A Great Curiosity About YOU, a podcast where we dive into the highs, the lows, and everything in between on the journey of entrepreneurship and personal growth. This is a space for honest conversations, reflection, and discovering meaning in the messy, beautiful process of becoming. Quick note: the video didn’t come through on this one, so you’ll have to soak up all the wisdom in audio this time. I’m so excited to be joined by my dear friend, Katie Kuhn (https://www.itsalongstory.co/). Katie and I go way back—we met during our merchandising careers at Gap Inc., became close friends over a decade ago, and now we’re both entrepreneurs with a shared passion for supporting heart-centered humans. She owns a consulting company called It’s A Long Story (https://www.itsalongstory.co/), where she dives into the heart and soul of a brand’s mission and brings it to life in the world through what she calls brand therapy. She shares more about that process in this episode. I had the pleasure of working with Katie as I transitioned to full-time coaching, refining my philosophy, framework, and offerings—a 6 month experience that boosted my confidence and reminded me how powerful guidance is for us all. Having her on the show feels like a full-circle moment, and I couldn’t be more thrilled to share this conversation with you. Together We Explore: * Leaving Corporate Behind: Katie shares what it was really like to walk away from the safety of corporate life and into the unknown of entrepreneurship. We talk about what inspired her to make the leap, how she followed her curiosity into new industries and projects, and why having more fun has become one of her biggest business values. * Getting Unstuck: As a 3/6 Emotional Manifesting Generator, Katie opens up about how Human Design has helped her trust herself more deeply and keep her energy moving forward. We talk about the vulnerability of launching something new, putting your desires out into the world, and being fully seen for them—and her reminder is gold: “Don’t believe everything you think.” * Building Offline: Katie’s greatest gift, Gate 2 of Orientation, shows up so clearly in the way she builds her business through energetic flow and grounded direction. We explore how she’s cultivating real-world relationships, networking with intention, and staying open to the right opportunities instead of forcing them. * Friendship and Collaboration: Katie’s story is layered with community—former coworkers, close friends, and family who’ve shown up along the way. We talk about the power of asking for help, staying connected, and moving through those moments of feeling misunderstood when you’re building something with soul. * Finding Meaning in the Process: More than anything, this conversation is about trusting your own heart. Katie reflects on how every twist, pause, and pivot is helping her strengthen own internal compass. This conversation is a reminder of the power of connection, curiosity, and showing up fully in your own life—and how friends can be your greatest mirrors and collaborators along the way. I’m so grateful to Katie for sharing her journey and wise reflections with all of us. Even without video this time, the conversation carries an energy I hope you can feel! You can now also listen to A Great Curiosity About YOU on Apple (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-great-curiosity-about-you/id1849715220) or Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/show/42EJOlzPzEwVonaijP8PbO). This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jillianbremer.substack.com (https://jillianbremer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

6. 

   23 Sept 2025

   A Great Curiosity About YOU- Kathleen Pagan of Endlessly Elated

   Welcome to A Great Curiosity About YOU, a new podcast where I hold space for inspiring humans to share their journey of stepping into their unique gifts, embracing growth, and expanding their capacity. I’ve always been fascinated by how others turn their ideas and visions into reality. Watching someone take action, navigate challenges, and bring meaningful projects to life expands what we believe is possible—and connecting with other creatives has continually fueled my own growth. I’ll be honest: I was nervous to record this first episode! But my intention is to encourage us all to create what we love, no matter what—and as I step deeper into my own purpose, I admire that my guests are doing the same. Together, we hope to share that possibility with you too: a space to reflect, resonate, and witness how purpose and creation can unfold. I’m thrilled to welcome my first guest and past client, Kathleen Pagan (https://substack.com/@endlesslyelated). Kathleen is the heart and brains behind Endlessly Elevated (https://endlesslyelated.com/), a lifestyle brand dedicated to intentional living. She has a passion for design, cooking, and healthy living, sharing her journey openly on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/endlesslyelated/) and Substack (https://endlesslyelated.substack.com/). She’s also working on a cookbook preserving her family’s Puerto Rican recipes—a project rooted in culture, memory, and deep purpose. Kathleen is one of the most open and positive humans I know. She’s a devoted Human Design enthusiast and someone who has navigated loss, bold career moves, and relocating to a new country with curiosity and courage. Together We Explore: * The Journey of Self-Discovery: How Kathleen’s experience as a first-generation American shaped her perspective on purpose and creativity, and how relocating to the Dominican Republic gave her space to explore what truly drives her. * Navigating Blocks: Struggles with rejection, ambition, and self-doubt—particularly around her cookbook—and how she’s learned to face these fears without letting them stop her. * Bringing Ideas to Life: Turning her family’s Puerto Rican recipes into a cookbook, balancing vision with the practical work of creating, testing, and refining. * Moments of Wisdom: The value of patience, trusting intuition, and noticing patterns—reminders to stay true to what we really love instead of following “shoulds.” * Living in Alignment: What it feels like when she’s fully aligned with her gifts—how her energy shifts and the sense of flow she experiences. * Dreaming Bigger: The vision she’s leaning into now: not just completing her cookbook, but honoring her family’s culture and legacy and creating impact that extends beyond herself. I’m so grateful to Kathleen for joining me on this first episode and generously sharing her story, insights, and passion. It’s a true gift to be on this journey together with you all—exploring, creating, and stepping more fully into our purpose. I’d love to hear your thoughts on this first episode and any feedback on how to make these conversations even more supportive for your own journey. Also—do you prefer listening on Spotify or Apple Podcasts? I’m sure these will continue to evolve in format and quality over time! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jillianbremer.substack.com (https://jillianbremer.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

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Apple Podcasts (US)

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Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.