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Good Ideas + Bad Decisions

Good Ideas + Bad Decisions

Written by: Kat Oldershaw and Ellen Hockley
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About this listen

Welcome to Good Ideas + Bad Decisions! Let’s be real - it’s the perfect name for a show hosted by two business owners who have absolutely made both. Between us, we’ve started businesses, burned out, bounced back, and helped other entrepreneurs do the same. We’re here to talk about the messy middle of running a business - entrepreneurship, mental health, and the chaos that comes with making your own path. Join your hosts Ellen and Kat as we candidly share our experiences, answer your burning business questions, and welcome other owners into our emotional support business club.Kat Oldershaw and Ellen Hockley Economics
Episodes
  • Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat: Episode 014
    Jan 23 2026

    In this "Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat", Ellen and Kat share updates on their holiday experiences and discuss their plans for the new year. They talk about their busy holiday schedules, the challenges of dealing with illness, and the freezing winter weather. The hosts delve into their business goals, including better delegation, sustainable growth, and achieving balance. They also touch on the importance of mindfulness and being present in different aspects of life. Tune in to hear their exciting plans for the year and learn from their candid reflections and insights.


    Don't forget to submit your business questions for future episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Question Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Kat is the Owner + Operator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth.

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    23 mins
  • Episode 020: Connecting Through Storytelling in Brand Marketing with Renee Lynn Frojo
    Jan 16 2026

    In this episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' hosts Kat and Ellen welcome Renee Lynn Frojo, owner of a storytelling brand and marketing consultancy firm, A Good Reputation. The discussion revolves around the challenges and chaotic beauty of entrepreneurship, emphasizing the importance of storytelling in branding. Renee shares her journey from journalism to marketing, illustrating how storytelling can connect people and build authentic brands. The conversation covers the evolution of business models, the significance of community and retreats, and practical advice for navigating business uncertainties. Insights include the necessity of telling difficult stories, the process of branding, and the value of persistence and experimentation in finding the right business approach.


    Renee Lynn Frojo is a storytelling strategist with over 20 years of experience in journalism, marketing, and the creator economy. Over the course of her career, she profiled San Francisco's startups, small businesses, and influential leaders while building her own food blog and motherhood magazine. Now, Renee runs A Good Reputation, helping purpose-driven entrepreneurs craft narratives that build loyal communities who don't just want what they offer, but love what they stand for.

    Kat is the Owner + Operator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth.


    00:00 Welcome to Good Ideas + Bad Decisions
    00:43 Post-Thanksgiving Catch-Up
    01:37 Introducing Renee Lynn Frojo
    03:11 The Power of Storytelling in Branding
    07:16 From Journalism to Branding
    12:40 The Journey of Building a Brand
    16:17 Challenges and Strategies in Business
    23:49 The Importance of Processes and Systems
    24:46 Investing in a Business Coach
    25:14 The Role of a Psychic in Business Decisions
    26:15 Giving Permission and Building Confidence
    27:52 The Power of Storytelling in Business
    31:23 Personal Stories and Business Identity
    33:10 The Impact of Retreats and Community Building
    41:28 Customizing Business Goals and Success
    42:48 Final Thoughts and Parting Wisdom

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    47 mins
  • Coffee Chats with Ellen + Kat: Episode 013
    Jan 9 2026

    In this mini-episode of 'Good Ideas + Bad Decisions,' Ellen and Kat discuss the daily challenges of business and home life. Ellen shares a story about a kitchen repair that disrupted meal prep, while Kat deals with a laundry mishap. Ellen then recounts a nightmare Airbnb guest experience over Thanksgiving that involved broken toilets and aggressive demands. They wrap up with a business Q&A on whether proposals should be aesthetically pleasing or straightforward. Tune in for a blend of personal anecdotes and valuable business insights.


    Don't forget to submit your business questions for future episodes! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Business Question Link⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Kat is the Owner + Operator of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠kat&co⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and brings a unique perspective with her psychology background and experience in creative business operations, making her adept at discussing the intersection of creativity and structured processes. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join her newsletter The kat&co Download!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠


    Ellen is the Owner of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Ellen Hockley Consulting⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and offers valuable insights from her extensive experience in building successful small businesses and empowering female entrepreneurs, providing practical advice on business strategy and growth.

    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
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