In episode 34 of Fearless and Focused, Casey and Brooke sit down with Sarah Foley, better known as the Vertical Blonde, to talk about what it really looks like to rebuild your identity after life changes in an instant. After an ATV accident in 2012 left Sarah paralyzed from the waist down, she made a decision many people never even consider: she wasn't going to shrink—she was going to rise!

Sarah shares the powerful story behind creating her iconic brand, Vertical Blonde, and how she reclaimed her sense of glamour, confidence, and femininity while navigating disability. This conversation goes deeper than motivation... it's about internal reflection, staying consistent, and choosing to embody the fullest version of yourself even when the world expects you to settle for less. Sarah also opens up about the realities of stepping into corporate speaking, the pressure to "fit the mold," and how she's learned to stay true to her bold, unapologetic presence.

This episode is a reminder that living fearlessly isn't loud...it's intentional. It's listening to yourself, taking aligned action, and showing up as who you are, not who you think you're supposed to be.

• Sarah's story after her 2012 ATV accident and the identity shift that followed

• How "Vertical Blonde" was born—and why creating your own identity matters

• Reclaiming femininity, confidence, and glamour through disability

• The role of consistency, inner work, and embodiment in real transformation

• Breaking into corporate speaking without dimming your personality

• What it means to live fearlessly: listen inward, then act with intention

Listen now and take away a fresh perspective on confidence, identity, and showing up fully... no matter what you've been through!

The final episode of 2025 closes the Leveling Up Your Business in 2026 series with one powerful theme: alignment.

This conversation explores how to set goals that match the life and business you want, not the ones that drain your energy, break your systems, or pull you out of sync. Brooke and Casey walk through an alignment audit designed for women entrepreneurs who want clarity, momentum, and a stronger foundation heading into 2026.

Key elements of the 2026 Alignment Audit:

• Does your calendar match your goals?• Do your habits match your goals?• Does your team match your goals?• Does your leadership match your goals?• Does your marketing match your goals?• Does your energy match your goals?

This episode brings real talk about overwhelm, goal-setting fatigue, the visionary mindset, the need for delegation, and the importance of aligning actions with intentions. It's a grounded, honest look at what it takes to stay focused, structured, and supported as you grow.

If 2025 stretched you, changed you, or revealed gaps in your systems, this conversation helps you step into 2026 with clarity and confidence.

Subscribe to Fearless and Focused for weekly conversations that support ambitious women as they grow businesses, deepen purpose, and lead with alignment.

Conference takeaways, CEO mindset shifts and marketing frameworks from 2025 events that can position a business for stronger, more intentional growth in 2026.

This episode of Fearless and Focused recaps lessons from Texas Leaders Forum, She Leads Summit, AC 25, Mega Agency Conference and the Fearless and Focused retreat, turning a full year of travel and training into practical moves for women building agencies and brands.

In this conversation, topics include:

-Showing up online with clarity, confidence and a clear niche audience instead of guessing what to post

-Turning content into policies by speaking directly to ideal clients and blending traditional marketing with modern social strategy

-Using community and connection at She Leads to break isolation, ease imposter feelings and build friendships that last beyond the event

-Planning and execution tools like Trello boards, business planning and leadership practices that keep big goals organized

-The DATA framework for agency owners: Diversify, Accountability, Tracking and Adjusting

-Diversifying lead sources, setting expectations for teams, and protecting marketing spend with strong processes and consequences

-Stacking direct mail with paid social ads to touch the same households twice and boost ROI

-Shifting into CEO mode at Mega Agency, delegating with the 70-30 rule and focusing on profit and cash flow instead of chasing every carrier target

-Expanding income beyond the agency through other businesses and investments

-Why intimate retreats create next level breakthroughs, collaboration and clarity going into a new year

-Choosing a word of the year to anchor decisions, priorities and energy for 2026

Share this episode with a woman in leadership who is setting a stronger standard for 2026, then comment with a word of the year and the conference or event that created the biggest shift this year.

Subscribe to Fearless and Focused for weekly conversations on business, leadership and life that keep women entrepreneurs bold, strategic and supported.

In Part 2 of the Leveling Up Your Business in 2026 series, the Fearless and Focused hosts sit down with Jenny Giannone, a recruiting specialist with Insurance Teamwork Services, to unpack what it really takes to build a high performing team in today's market.

Jenny shares:

-How remote recruiting actually works behind the scenes

-Why clarity, culture, and speed matter when working with a recruiter

-Common mistakes agency owners make when hiring

-How to move fast on top talent without burning out

-What to prepare before you ever reach out to a recruiter

Who is Jenny Giannone?

Jenny is a dedicated insurance recruiter with Insurance Teamwork Services, a firm that specializes in connecting top insurance talent with growing agencies through recruiting, coaching, and consulting. Their team helps agencies source, vet, and pre-screen candidates, particularly for remote and in-office insurance roles across the U.S.

👉 Connect with Jenny and Insurance Teamwork Services:

Website: insuranceteamwork.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jennygiannone/

This episode is for agency owners and small business leaders who are tired of doing it all themselves and are ready to hire smarter in 2026.

👍 Like, comment, and subscribe for the next parts in the series on accountability and marketing.

Hiring in 2026 is not the same as hiring in 2018. Top candidates are on the market for days, not weeks. They want flexibility, purpose and a clear culture. That means small business owners, agency owners and boutique brands need a hiring process that is fast, defined and values-driven.

This first part of the 4-part "Leveling Up Your Business in 2026" series breaks down what modern hiring should look like. It covers how to create clarity around the role, how to pre-screen before the interview using personality and intake questions, why referrals are still gold, how to use Facebook and LinkedIn groups with intention, and why a 30/60/90 onboarding with consequences protects culture.

Key ideas inside:

Hire fast, not in a hurry

Define success for the role before you post it

Use referrals, private groups and daily life to find people

Interview before the interview with quick assessments

Train for skill, hire for attitude

Set expectations and consequences in the first 90 days

Open the door to remote talent to widen the pool

Get ready for part 2 with a recruiter who specializes in insurance and remote teams

This series is built for owners who are done with interview paralysis and empty seats and want a sharper, faster system going into 2026. Subscribe and drop questions about recruiters or remote hiring so they can be asked in the next part of the series.

Brooke and Casey unpack their Elevate Your Influence retreat in Hot Springs: a luxe, rockstar-themed mansion, mindset + strategy sessions, yoga + meditation, one-to-one coaching, brand photography, and a chef-prepared sunset dinner. They highlight why small, intimate circles accelerate growth, how cross-industry women (agents, lenders, fitness, etc.) found common ground, and why vulnerability + collaboration = momentum. The day flowed through stations for planning, journaling, content implementation, and lifestyle shoots, then wrapped with sisterhood vibes (and karaoke). Big themes: say yes before you feel "ready," curate spaces that spark connection, and remember: better together beats going solo.

Vendor Roll-Call (Arkansas, BOOK them, they're stars)

Venue: Overnight Digs (themed group rentals, including the Rockstar Mansion — Hot Springs)

Site & booking: overnightdigs.com | +1 (501) 276-1210.

Private Chef: Chef Alex Zummo (travels; partners with In The Trees, Hot Springs)

Instagram (booking via DM): @chefalexzummo.

Mobile Hat Bar: Social Pony — Courtney Rector (custom cowboy/flat-brim hats)

Instagram: @courtrector | @shopsocialpony.

Balloons & Installations: Balloonishh

FB: Balloonish | Phone: +1 (501) 545-1325 | Email: BalloonishHS@gmail.com

Step-and-Repeat / Print: Stephanie Martin (freelance design & print)

Booking/contact: (via local referral; inquire by DM to us for intro). (No public site; local freelancer.)

Photography: McCullough Expressions — Lauren McCullough (fast turnaround, brand/lifestyle)

Site: mcculloughexpressions.pixieset.com | Phone: +1 (501) 276-7673.

Grazing / Charcuterie: Harvest & Graze (Conway)

FB: Harvest & Graze | Phone: +1 (501) 358-6800.

Catering: Diane's Gourmet (Little Rock)

Site/contact: dianesgourmet.com/catering. Diane's Gourmet

Unique Stays Mentioned: In The Trees

Booking: links via @chefalexzummo highlights / local listings.

If you want warm intros to any of the above, DM us RETREAT INTRO and we'll connect you.

👇 Tune in, tag your future retreat roommate, and DM RETREAT for next year's early-bird list.

Brooke and Casey celebrate one year of their social media program, Let's Get Social! 🎉 This episode is packed with social media strategies for female entrepreneurs, small business owners, realtors, and insurance agents. Learn how to grow your business with Instagram Reels, engagement-focused content, and easy-to-use tools, even if you're camera-shy!

In this episode, you'll discover how to:

-Start using social media even if you don't feel ready

-Use tools like CapCut, Canva, and ChatGPT

-Focus on engagement and building relationships, not just likes

-Create content for your audience and convert it into leads

💻 Interested in access to the Social Starter Program or one-on-one coaching? DM us for details and get started today!

Collaboration over competition, authenticity in leadership, and building community that truly supports growth, this episode of Fearless and Focused dives into it all. Catie Fitzgerald and Danielle Pavone share how they broke into male-led industries, rolled out systems that transformed a company, and turned their podcast into a platform for education, consulting, and women-led empowerment.

From navigating stereotypes without falling into "man-bashing," to reshaping competition into opportunity, their stories highlight the real mindset shifts women entrepreneurs need to thrive.

Catch Part 1 of this conversation on their show From 9 to Mom, where the focus was on balancing the 9–5 with the chaos of motherhood.

About the Guests:

• Catie Fitzgerald is Director of Operations & Marketing at IPC Media, a mom of two, lifelong athlete, and co-host of From 9 to Mom.

• Danielle Pavone is a marketing leader at IPC Media, mom of two, and co-host of From 9 to Mom, passionate about people, process, and helping small businesses cut through the noise of the digital world.