Untangled

About Untangled

Untangled is a podcast for founders and people considering becoming founders who want to build a business that is authentically theirs. Each episode features honest conversations with founders about what it really takes to build something that fits. We talk about getting out of your own way, questioning assumptions, and bringing the hard-to-name things to the surface so better decisions can be made. This is a space for founders to step back, think out loud, and give themselves permission to build the business they actually want to lead. One that reflects who they are, aligns with the market

Publisher

Tangled Rabbit

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

15 Jan 2026

Latest episode

31 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

16 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Aug 2026

   Ep 16: Radical Shifts with Aneela Adnani, HabitAware

   Aneela Idnani started out as a creative. A twist of fate sent her down a very different path, and she built a successful career there. But eventually, something didn't feel right. The future the people around her were building wasn't the future she wanted for herself. In this Radical Shifts episode, Aneela shares the winding journey of finding her way back to the parts of herself she'd left behind, and how that path eventually led her to co-found HabitAware, a smart bracelet designed to help people take control of subconscious behaviors like compulsive hair pulling. Looking backward, the pieces connect in ways she couldn't have predicted. Her analytical side. Her creativity. Her experience bringing ideas to life. Even the deeply personal struggle she spent decades trying to hide. We talk about what happens when you're good at something but know it isn't where you belong, following the breadcrumbs back to who you've always been, and giving yourself permission to leave one dream behind to discover another. If you've ever looked at the path in front of you and thought, “I could do this, but I don't think it's me,” this conversation is worth a listen. Website: https://habitaware.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aneelaidnani/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/habitaware

2. 

   17 Aug 2026

   Ep 15: Radical Shifts with Mitch Bliven, Genius Network Solutions

   Mitch Bliven spent much of his career trying to figure out where he fit. He started college in business, quickly realized that wasn't his world, moved into social work, and eventually found his way into process improvement, data and analytics. Each move brought him closer to work that fit, but something still wasn't quite clicking. Then Mitch discovered the Six Types of Working Genius. For the first time, he had language for a pattern that had followed him throughout his career: the way he naturally questioned, wondered, and looked for different possibilities. It also helped him see just how differently people are wired to contribute at work. That discovery eventually became the foundation for Genius Network Solutions, where Mitch helps organizations understand those differences and create environments where more people can contribute in the ways they do best. In this Radical Shift episode of the Untangled podcast, Mitch talks about what happened when a layoff gave him the opportunity to try entrepreneurship. He shares the messy process of figuring out what his business would actually be, why having financial runway mattered, what he learned by giving his work away, and why founders shouldn't expect their first idea to be the right one. For anyone building a business or wondering whether entrepreneurship could be their next move, it's a conversation about finding the threads in your own career, experimenting your way forward, and giving yourself time to figure out what fits. Website: https://leadwithgns.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitchell-bliven/

3. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Ep 14: Radical Shifts with Susan Gleissner, Unearth Coaching & Consulting and This Big Wild World

   After 13 years as an engineering leader in Fortune 500 food manufacturing, Susan realized the work she loved most wasn't solving technical problems. It was developing people. That realization set her on a years-long journey into organization development, leadership coaching, entrepreneurship, and a life built around adventure. In this episode, Susan shares why big career changes don't have to happen overnight, how she overcame perfectionism by treating every new idea as a pilot, and why she believes your career might be the greatest adventure you'll ever take. Whether you're considering a career change, building a business, or simply wondering what's next, this conversation is a reminder that the biggest shifts are often built one intentional step at a time. Website: www.thisbigwildworld.com | https://unearthcoachingandconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susangleissner/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unearthyourpossibilities/

4. 

   20 Jul 2026

   Ep 13: Radical Shifts with Mick White, Purpose Fueled Community

   For 20 years, Mick White built a career in insurance and financial services. Today, he's helping people build something completely different: deeper conversations, stronger communities, and businesses built with purpose. In this Radical Shifts episode, Mick shares how a season of personal hardship eventually led him to create Purpose Fueled Communities. What started as one coffee conversation after another became a room full of people who were ready to have the conversations they couldn't seem to have anywhere else. The surprising part? Mick didn't set out to become a community builder or consultant. He was simply doing what came naturally. It took other people to help him recognize the value he had been creating all along. We talk about treating your business like a series of experiments, why your greatest strengths often feel so natural that you overlook them, and how paying attention to what people keep asking you for can completely reshape what's next. If you've ever wondered whether the thing that comes easiest to you could actually become your business, this conversation is worth a listen. Website: https://purposefueled.community/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/100yearmanifesto/

5. 

   6 Jul 2026

   Ep 12: Radical Shifts with Geoff Carlston, In System Leadership

   For nearly 30 years, Geoff Carlston coached college volleyball. Today, he coaches CEOs, founders, and executive leaders. On paper, it looks like a dramatic career change. But when you listen to Geoff's story, you realize the work itself never really changed. The arena did. In this Radical Shifts episode, Geoff shares how stepping away from college athletics led him to see that the lessons he'd spent decades learning about leadership, culture, trust, and pressure were exactly what business leaders needed. We talk about recognizing the experience that's already in your toolbox, why your next business doesn't have to look anything like your résumé, and what it means to build something that fits the life you want now. If you've ever wondered whether your career has prepared you for something completely different, this conversation might change how you see your own story. Website: https://www.insystemleadership.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/geoff-carlston-ab14391a6/ Phone: 614-352-9138

6. 

   22 Jun 2026

   Ep 11: Choosing a Lane with Leilani Quiray, be the change HR

   Many founders feel pressure to choose. Build the businessthat makes money or pursue the cause you care about. Focus on what you're good at or focus on making a difference. In this Choosing a Lane episode, LeiLani Quiray shares whyshe refused to accept that those had to be separate paths. When she launched be the change HR, she knew she wanted to build a successful HR firm. She also knew she wanted her work to create meaningful impact in the fight against human trafficking. What she didn't know was how those two ideas would fit together. That answer wasn't waiting in a business plan. It emerged through experimentation, conversations, hard-earned lessons, and a willingness to keep moving forward before everything was figured out. Over time, LeiLani built a company that helps small businesses scale while creating opportunities for survivors of sex trafficking. The mission wasn't something added later. It became part of the foundation. What stands out in LeiLani's story is that she didn't choosebetween purpose and profit, expertise and impact, or business and service. She built a model that made room for all of them. For founders wrestling with what belongs in their businessand what doesn't, this episode offers a different perspective on choosing a lane. Sometimes the answer isn't picking one thing and leaving the rest behind. Sometimes it's finding a way to bring the things that matter most together. Website: https://bethechangehr.com/ (https://bethechangehr.com/) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leilaniquiray/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/leilaniquiray/)YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bethechangehr (https://www.youtube.com/@bethechangehr)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bethechangehr/ (https://www.instagram.com/bethechangehr/)Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethechangehumanresources/ (https://www.facebook.com/bethechangehumanresources/)

7. 

   8 Jun 2026

   Ep 10: Untangling with Valerie Dennis Craven, True North Content

   Valerie Dennis Craven came into this Untangling Sessionthinking she had already narrowed her focus. She described herself as a fractional marketingstrategist with a content slant. On paper, that sounds specific. But in conversation, it still left a lot for other people to figure out. What kind of company needs her? Who hires her? Where does she want to sit inside the organization? And what kind of work actually energizes her once she gets there? As Beth and Valerie talk it through, the issue becomesless about choosing between marketing strategy and content strategy, and more about naming the role Valerie actually wants to play. She can work with different leaders, but the conversation shifts when she talks about supportingCMOs. That’s where her value becomes clearer: helping turn marketing strategy into real movement across content, sales, customer success, and the day-to-day work of the team. This episode is about the kind of clarity that can feelrisky because it means admitting what you want. Not just what you can do. Not just what sounds marketable. But who you want to help, where you want to plug in, and what you want people to remember you for. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdcraven/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/vdcraven/)Website: https://www.mytruenorth.co/ (https://www.mytruenorth.co/)

8. 

   25 May 2026

   Ep 9: Radical Shifts with Lisa Buck, Lisa Buck Photography

   She didn’t become a photographer overnight. And she didn’t wake up one day and suddenly become anentrepreneur either. In this Radical Shifts episode, Lisa Buck shares thewinding path from corporate attorney, to stay-at-home mom of four, to founder of Lisa Buck Photography. What looks like a dramatic career change from the outsidewas actually built through years of paying attention to what kept bringing her back to the camera, what kind of work fit the life she wanted, and what she was willing to believe about herself next. We talk about the difference between being good atsomething and believing you can build a business around it. The risks that feel manageable versus the ones that feelimpossible. And the quiet limiting beliefs that keep people stuck farlonger than they need to be. There’s also an honest conversation about age, identity,and what happens when you stop assuming it’s “too late” to become the next version of yourself. If you’ve been wondering whether the thing you’renaturally drawn toward could actually become something more, this episode will hit home. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabuckphoto/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisabuckphoto/) Website: https://www.lisabuckphoto.com/ (https://www.lisabuckphoto.com/)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisabuckphoto/ (https://www.instagram.com/lisabuckphoto/)

9. 

   11 May 2026

   Ep 8: Radical Shifts with Alyson Phillips, Sassy Daffodil

   She didn’t wait for the layoff. She started building before she needed to. In this Radical Shifts episode, Alyson Phillips shares how Sassy Daffodil Garden Consulting came to life after 25 years in corporate. Not as one big decision. More like a series of small ones that kept pointing herin a different direction. She was still in her full-time role when she startedpaying attention to what gave her energy and what kept showing up in her life outside of work. From there, she kept following it. Testing, adjusting, and figuring out what might actually make sense as something more. There wasn’t a clean moment where everything clicked. Just a growing sense that what she had been doing wasn’twhat she was meant to keep doing. We talk about what it looks like to prepare for a shift before you’re forced into one, how real-world testing shapes the path more than any plan, and what happens when you start taking yourself seriously in a way you hadn’t before. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sassydaffodil/ (https://www.linkedin.com/company/sassydaffodil/)Website: https://sassydaffodil.com/ (https://sassydaffodil.com/)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sassydaffodil/ (https://www.instagram.com/sassydaffodil/)

10. 

    27 Apr 2026

    Ep 7: Untangling with Tanya Coller, Ayla

    When you finally get momentum, it can be surprisingly hard to stay focused. Tanya Coller has always wanted to build something of her own. After years working in product and coaching, she used new AI tools to create a platform that helps experts make their content more interactive for learners. An early signal turned into beta users. Beta users turned into real feedback. On paper, things were moving. But as the possibilities expanded, so did the questions. Her platform could serve many different audiences. The vision was big. The early traction, however, was specific. In this conversation, we explore the pull between what could be and what is already working. How do you resist the urge to chase every opportunity? How do you stay close to the signals right in front of you without feeling like you are limiting your future? This episode reflects a common founder moment. Not the leap from nothing to something, but the shift from possibility to focus. When your idea feels expansive, choosing where to plant your flag can feel like the real risk. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyacoller/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanyacoller/) Website: https://www.withayla.ai/ (https://www.withayla.ai/)

11. 

    13 Apr 2026

    Ep 6: Untangling with Natasha Knight

    If you have ever taken a class or tried something new just to “find your fun” and then wondered why it keeps pulling at you, this episode will feel familiar. Dr. Natasha Knight did not set out to start a business. With a long career in public health, she signed up for an interior decorating course as a creative outlet. After selling her home, a realtor casually asked who had staged it. The answer was simple. She had. That comment opened the door to exploring whether this talent was something more than a hobby. As Natasha began offering complimentary design sessions, she noticed something deeper happening. It was not just about arranging furniture. It was about how families function in their homes. It was about wellness, dignity, and how environment shapes stress and stability. The conversation slowly expands from staging and DIY updates to bigger questions about trauma-informed spaces, rural community health, affordable housing, and even how her husband’s dream of property management could intersect with her own. What unfolds in this untangling session is not a tidy business plan. It is a widening lens. A creative spark starts to connect with years of experience in health equity and a shared desire to build something meaningful in their North Carolina community. For founders in the earliest stages, this episode mirrors the moment when you realize your side idea might not be random at all. It might be pointing toward a larger vision that ties together your work, your values, and your life. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naknightphd/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/naknightphd/)

12. 

    30 Mar 2026

    Ep 5: Choosing a Lane with Brianna Pyka, BrandRaise

    If you have ever wondered how some founders become instantly referable while others keep explaining what they do, this conversation will resonate. In this Choosing a Lane episode, Brianna Pyka shares howBrandRaise grew by narrowing its focus inside the nonprofit world. Today, they are known for connecting brand and fundraising in a way that feels seamless. But that clarity did not appear overnight. In the early days, they tested their ideas in real time.They said yes to learning opportunities. They worked closely with organizations to understand where things were breaking down and what actually moved the needle. Those early projects helped them refine their language, tighten theirprocess, and get honest about what they would and would not offer. What stands out is not just that they chose a niche. It isthat they earned the confidence to stand in it. They adjusted along the way. They formalized what worked. They stopped trying to be everything to everyone. Over time, that focus made them easier to describe, easier to trust, and easierto refer. For founders still shaping their lane, this episode offers arealistic look at how clarity is built. Not through a single bold decision, but through testing, refining, and paying attention to what clients actually need from you. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannapyka/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannapyka/) Website: https://brandraise.co/ (https://brandraise.co/)

13. 

    16 Mar 2026

    Ep 4: Untangling with Lindsay Early, Lindsay Early Marketing

    If you’ve ever realized your experience is impressive, but still hard to explain in a way that makes people immediately know when to call you, this episode will feel familiar. Lindsay Early spent two decades inside large organizations helping brands grow. After an unexpected career pause, she chose to build something on her own terms instead of stepping back into another corporate role. What she’s untangling isn’t capability. It’s translation. When your background spans industries, teams, and complexity, it’s easy to describe yourself in ways that sound strong on paper but don’t travel well in real conversations. In rooms full of connectors and collaborators, people need to know quickly where to place you. Without that clarity, referrals stall before they ever begin. In this Untangling Session, the focus shifts from résumé language to recognizability. They explore how naming who she supports, not just what she can do, changes how others hear her. The work becomes less about proving expertise and more about becoming easy to refer. This episode mirrors a moment many early-stage founders face: the realization that your depth isn’t the differentiator. Your clarity is. And sometimes the shift from broad credibility to specific language is what finally creates forward movement. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayfearly/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindsayfearly/)Website: https://www.lindsayearlymarketing.com/ (https://www.lindsayearlymarketing.com/)

14. 

    3 Feb 2026

    Ep 3: Untangling with Geri Huibregtse, Align Design Lead

    If you’ve ever felt like two parts of you both come naturally, but don’t quite fit together in your business, this episode will feel familiar. Geri Huibregtse has spent years as a COO and consultant in fast-paced digital product and agency environments, working closely with tech and creative leaders under real delivery pressure. Along the way, she began questioning how leadership actually shows up in the day-to-day work, especially when the pace doesn’t slow down. What Geri came to untangle wasn’t whether strategy or reflection mattered more. It was how to bring together two instincts that had shaped her career: driving execution and holding space for leaders and teams to grow. When working with clients, those instincts often showed up as either-or, leaving her wrestling with how to build a business that truly integrated both. Rather than forcing a clean answer, the conversation becomes a live example of the Untangled process. Together, they reflect on real moments from Geri’s work and try on what it might look like to let those instincts coexist. This episode mirrors what many early-stage entrepreneurs experience when they’re building something that actually fits. It shows how naming tension, testing small shifts, and reflecting in real time can create clarity. Learn More About Our Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerihuibregtse/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerihuibregtse/) Website: https://www.aligndesignlead.com/ (https://www.aligndesignlead.com/)

15. 

    3 Feb 2026

    Ep 2: Untangling with Kristi Broom, Lotus Transformation Group

    If you’ve ever felt pressure to “just pick one thing,” even though your value shows up in many places, this episode will feel familiar. Kristi Broom describes herself as “unapologetically and.” Throughout her career, she’s stepped into whatever challenge was in front of her, learning by doing and helping people move forward through moments of change. But as she built her own business, that strength started to feel like a liability. With multiple ventures taking shape, she assumed she’d need to choose one path and set the rest aside. In this Untangling Session, Kristi realizes the issue isn’t focus. It’s scope. Her work consistently shows up at a specific stage of a company’s journey, particularly with early-stage tech startups when ideas start carrying real weight. These are the moments when customers need to be managed intentionally, teams are forming beyond friends and family, and founders are shifting from building a product to building a business. The shift isn’t about narrowing herself into a single role. It’s about defining the stage and context where she does her best work, so she can niche down in a way that’s clear, referable, and still true to how she operates. This episode mirrors a core Untangled lesson for founders: clarity doesn’t always come from choosing less. Sometimes it comes from choosing the right scope so the right people know when and why to bring you in. Learn More About Our Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristibroom/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristibroom/) Website: https://www.lotustransformationgroup.com/ (https://www.lotustransformationgroup.com/)

16. 

    15 Jan 2026

    Ep 1: Untangling with Susan Cevette, WatersEdge Wealth Management

    In this first episode of Untangled, Beth Elliott reflects on her first unofficial untangling session with Susan Cevette, founder of WatersEdge Wealth Management. Susan was not unclear about who she served best. She already knew. What held her back was the fear of saying it out loud and what that decision might cost her. In their conversation, Susan realized that naming who she serves did not shrink her business. It freed her from trying to be everything to everyone and allowed her to show up more authentically for the people she most wants to serve. This episode explores what happens when founders give themselves permission to claim their work, trust what they already know, and let go of the need to be for everyone. The result is not less impact, but more freedom and a business that feels lighter, clearer, and more true. Learn More About Our Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanwatersedge/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanwatersedge/) Website: https://watersedgewealthmanagement.com/ (https://watersedgewealthmanagement.com/)

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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