About Open & Awkward: Shop Talk with Katie and Amanda
Finally, a show that encourages you to be YOU while going about your business! Two friends in the green industry (Digital marketing agency owner Katie Elzer-Peters and retail shop owner Amanda Thomsen) discuss life as middle-aged women entrepreneurs in the mid 2020s. Expect a hefty dose of retail operations real-talk, small business marketing and tech tips, appearances from Amanda's shop ghost and plenty of nonsense. The show notes are epic.
It's a new season so Katie and Amanda are ending the podcast for the time being.
Thanks for listening and stay open and awkward!
To See What We're Up To:
Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/ (https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/)
Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency (https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency)
Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords (https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords)
Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/ (https://kissmyaster.com/)
Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/ (https://thegardenofwords.com/)
21 Oct 2025
Open & Awkward: CANDLE PICKLE
Subtitle: A Question of Community
Summary:
Amanda finds herself in a candle pickle. Her vendor has suddenly raised their order minimum without warning, leaving her unable to restock. Should she start making her own candles instead? Katie sheds light on possible causes behind the change, from the end of de minimis exemptions to tariffs and rising costs. The conversation then turns to community. Why it’s so essential, how some people create it OR actively avoid it! WHY? Finally, they tackle Amanda’s dilemma…will the farmer’s market survive?
Highlights:
Amanda’s candle pickle
End of de minimis exemptions and price increases
A discussion of community
Will the Farmer’s Market survive?
Links:
Capital Stitch Company (https://www.etsy.com/shop/capitalstitchco)
The Cinnamon Bear - Complete Christmas Adventure (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bf4k99W6Z4g)
There are no photos in this episode
The Stuff at the End
Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/ (https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/)
Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency (https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency)
Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords (https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords)
Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/ (https://kissmyaster.com/)
Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/ (https://thegardenofwords.com/)
14 Oct 2025
Open & Awkward: BAG OF IDEAS
Subtitle: Apocalypse Skills
Summary:
Amanda kicks things off with stories from the local Keepataw Parade and how the event impacts her business. Both Katie and Amanda share their plans for fall yard work (think mountains of bulbs) and exciting garden goals. Katie’s gearing up for a busy season of teaching art classes and couldn’t be more excited. The two discuss holiday customer gifts, is it a good idea? Amanda’s on the fence, but Katie has plenty of creative ideas. They also talk about how recreating an idea isn’t necessarily “stealing” it. They get real about how things just hit differently when you own a business and wonder if they had to do it all over again would they maybe just learn a trade instead?
Highlights:
The Keepataw Parade
Delightful weather
Katie and Amanda plans to work in THEIR own yards
Katie’s classes and her very busy weekend
Customer gifts and when to give
Slug party art
Business card blunder
Amanda and Katie discuss learning a trade
Links:
Eddie Gangland - artist (https://www.instagram.com/eddiegangland/?hl=en)
Victory Garden of Tomorrow (https://www.victorygardenoftomorrow.com/)
To see photos of picking flowers in the rain, Aster Gardens garden signs, Katie’s Slug Party and more, jump on over to The Garden of Words' website (https://thegardenofwords.com/open-awkward-season-2-episode-29-bag-of-ideas/)!
The Stuff at the End
Amanda’s Kiss My Aster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/ (https://www.instagram.com/kissmyaster/)
Katie’s Work Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency (https://www.instagram.com/thegardenofwordsagency)
Katie’s Personal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords (https://www.instagram.com/katie_gardenofwords)
Amanda’s Website: https://kissmyaster.com/ (https://kissmyaster.com/)
Katie’s Website: https://thegardenofwords.com/ (https://thegardenofwords.com/)
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
6 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
9 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 56 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
73
Social presence
94
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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