Today Dusty Hegge (that's me! - a discipleship-first business consultant and strategist) is sharing a few family updates from family sick to appendicitis to Disneyland! But the bulk episode is on how to create and grow a brand that leaves your community feeling seen, heard, and supported because THAT is how you develop a brand that invokes the same level of loyalty, obsession, and fandom as Disneyland!

Get a free your free Action Planner dash

• Dusty's Website
• Dusty on Instagram
• Percolator Waitlist

https://dustyhegge.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Family Update and Disneyland Adventure
07:39 Business Lessons from Disneyland
13:31 Building Without a Full Plan
24:50 Customer Service Insights from Disneyland

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Today I’m joined by Grant Herbel from The Writer's Calling! We have such a fruitful, encouraging conversation about how to use Substack to grow your business, creativity, and community - all for the glory of God and the good of His people.

We talk about writing as a spiritual practice, protecting the practice over perfect consistency, how to promote your writing without feeling yucky about it, and why Substack creates space for genuine connection.

Plus, Grant shares a simple, practical approach to using Substack Notes by repurposing long-form writing, plus encouragement for anyone stuck in perfectionism at the starting line. We also explore calling, identity vs. vocation, and how visibility and sales can be acts of service when rooted in the right heart posture.

It’s such a fun conversation! I hope you love it!

CONNECT WITH DUSTY:

• Website: https://dustyhegge.com
• Substack: https://dustyhegge.substack.com
• Free Action Planner: https://dustyhegge.com/action-planner
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/dustyhegge

CONNECT WITH GRANT:

• Substack: https://substack.com/@grantherbel

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The Journey of Writing and Community Building
02:27 Finding Balance in Consistency and Creativity
04:22 Writing as a Spiritual Practice
08:02 The Role of Substack in Connecting Writers
09:28 Navigating the New Publishing Landscape
11:59 Sales as Service in Writing and Ministry
16:56 The Heart of Visibility and Marketing
19:59 Shifting Perspectives on Self-Promotion
25:45 Utilizing Substack Notes for Growth
28:02 Connecting Through Personal Experience
30:43 Repurposing Content for Efficiency
34:09 Navigating the Nuances of Calling
39:33 The River of Spiritual Life
45:22 Building Community on Substack
50:39 Starting Strong on Substack
55:02 The Essence of SEO and Content Quality
01:00:39 The Importance of Authenticity in Writing
01:10:26 Shifting from Doing for God to Doing with God
01:15:00 Trusting God's Guidance in Our Journey

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

I’m pulling back the curtain on my 2026 strategy—what I’m cutting, what I’m keeping, and how I’m simplifying my entire business around one clear plan. I break down my 4-part strategic plan framework—visibility, nurture, easy yes, and primary offer—and explain how it all connects inside a streamlined funnel.

And I'm sharing what I'm cutting (which? honestly might be the hardest part)

Looking for business clarity too?? I made you a free challenge to walk you through my ARISE framework to guide you through clarifying your business goals and action steps for this season of your business and life.

JOIN HERE

Want to build your plan? Start with Grounded.

Want accountability to actually follow through? That’s what The Percolator is for.

Dusty's Website | Dusty on Instagram

Let's work together: https://dustyhegge.com

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to the Hard Decision
01:11 Gratitude and Community Engagement
03:23 The Shift in Business Strategy
04:29 Facing Burnout and Capacity Challenges
09:22 Establishing Boundaries for Growth
13:22 Conversations with Brian: A Turning Point
20:17 Simplifying the Business Model
29:27 The Strategic Plan for 2026

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

This is one of those “take 15” days—spilled coffee, scattered brain, Christmas chaos - but honestly? This episode is just TOO good to not publish today!!!

I’m sharing my full scheduling framework: how I plan my year, quarter, month, and week, the tools I rely on, and the little systems that keep our family running when time blindness is doing the most.

We’ll cover the mindset (be nice to yourself, build with intention, hold it with surrender), my Google Calendar setup, the weekly fridge notepad routine, and the extra tools that make follow-through easier—without pretending life won’t change mid-week.

Join us at Company Retreat: Deep Work + Deep Rest Sojourn

Get the weekly notepad I use here

The Sylight Calendar (save $20!)

Honeybook (save 40% on your 1st year!)

DUSTY'S WEBSITE

Dusty on Instagram (come say hi and make my whole day!!!!)

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Christmas Reflections
00:48 The Importance of Scheduling
03:16 Mindset and Intentionality in Scheduling
06:05 Tools for Effective Scheduling
07:02 Google Calendar: The Master Tool
09:21 Family and Work Calendar Coordination
11:02 No plans days system
12:52 Integrating Honeybook and my personal calendar
15:12 Managing Kids' Schedules
16:54 Planning rest, family time, and vacations first
20:07 Meal Planning and Weekly Systems
24:27 Supplementary Tools for Scheduling
29:24 Action Planner and Task Management
34:22 Flexibility and Adaptability in Scheduling
35:17 Conclusion and Call to Action

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

I'm sharing some fun life updates (hello Wordle obsession) and some more vulnerable ones. Plus my pure EXCITEMENT (and a few updates) for Company Retreat!!! But the bulk of this episode is a very practical look at what's actually working right now on Instagram and Threads—without chasing fast growth or burning yourself out in the process.

This is a practical and honest conversation for Christian authors, coaches, and ministry-minded business owners who want to grow with integrity, steward their energy well, and stay faithful in a hard season. Because WOAH, this year has been a hard one, and I know I'm not the only one.

ALL THE LINKS:

001. Company Retreat (Applications + Early Bird Info)
+ https://dustyhegge.com/company-retreat

002. Book a Strategy Session

+ https://dustyhegge.com/strategy-sessions

003. Follow Me on Instagram
+ https://instagram.com/dustyhegge

004. Read + Message Me on Substack
+ https://dustyhegge.substack.com

IN THIS CONVERSATION:

• Why “messy, unoptimized action” will always beat overthinking and inaction
• What Company Retreat has taught me about failure, timing, and new beginnings
• How economic pressure is changing buying behavior (and what that means for your offers)
• The difference between fast growth and sustainable visibility
• What’s actually working on Threads right now—and why it’s helping Instagram growth
• How to think about Instagram Stories as relationship-building, not visibility
• Why resharing feed posts to Stories often hurts performance (and what to do instead)
• A healthier, more sustainable approach to content creation that doesn’t kill the joy

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Kicking off the first Dialogue Session, I'm joined by author Kristen LaValley. We talk about lip color, what she'd add to her squirrel bowl, neurodivergence in the Church, Company Retreat, and all about her new book, Growing Up Saved. We keep it light-hearted, we laugh a lot, and still make space for the deep stuff. Because it ALL has a place here. I hope you enjoy!

ALL THE LINKS:

Pre-order Growing Up Saved

Kristen's website | Kristen on Substack

COMPANY RETREAT: A deep work + deep rest sojourn for the Christian author, business owner, and leader

Dusty's Website

Feeling overwhelmed? Grab your free Action Planner HERE.

Let's work together: https://dustyhegge.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Lip Color Confessions
02:56 Wicked Movie Review
05:50 Squirrel Bowl Snacks
08:56 Creative Aspirations
11:47 Daily Routines and Comforts
14:45 Coffee Order Reflections
15:18 The Journey to Becoming an Author
20:38 Growing Up in a Pastor's Home
23:46 The Undoing and Rebuilding of Faith
29:26 Navigating Neurodivergence in Church Settings
33:12 Creating an Abundant Life
37:38 Agency Over Adulthood
39:00 Navigating Faith and Community Expectations
40:42 Nurturing Faith in Children
42:57 The Importance of Agency in Faith Exploration
45:45 Creating Safe Spaces for Questions
47:36 Marketing and Creative Processes
53:45 The Importance of Pre-Orders and Community Support

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

Are you craving a reset, too? I think we all are. So, today we're gonna talk about a few practical ways to implement a much-needed reset as a Christian leader and business owner. Plus ways to find the support you need to carry out the work God has asked you to do. I hope you feel encouraged and challenged in the very best ways!

LINKS MENTIONED:

The Early Morning Club

Company Retreat: A Deep Work and Deep Rest Sojourn & Year-long Sisterhood

Book a Strategy Session

Apply to join Energized

Attend the next Saturday ResetDUSTY ON INSTAGRAM: https://instagram.com/dustyhegge

LISTEN + SUBSCRIBE ON: SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS | SUBSTACK | MY WEBSITE

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.

In this episode, we dive into what every Christian entrepreneur needs to know about quarterly planning and creating content that actually works in today’s attention economy. You’ll learn the two essentials you must clarify before planning your quarter, plus how to grab attention fast, cut the fluff, and create engaging content that supports your business goals. Practical, faith-forward, and a little bit spicy—this one will help you plan smarter and communicate clearer.

Let’s dive in!!

FULL SHOW NOTES + ALL LINKS MENTIONED HERE

Send me a text! I'd love to hear what stood out about today's episode.