[00:00:00] [00:01:00] Young and profits, welcome back to the show. Today we've got an in-person episode with Krista Williams and Lindsay Simsek, who are the hosts of the Almost 30 podcast. Now, this is a podcast that they started nine years ago on their closet. Floor now, it's one of the top podcasts in the world. They've got a thriving online community.

They've got so many different revenue streams. They've built an incredible business around their podcast. So in this episode, we're gonna talk all about that. We're gonna talk about career pivots, the pivotal [00:02:00] period of your Saturn return right before your thirties, and how you can navigate that. We're also gonna talk about relationships, work, marriages, and so much more.

We get really deep in this conversation. I think you guys are gonna love it. Without further delay, here's my conversation with Krista and Lindsay. I. 

Hala Taha: Welcome to Young and Profiting Podcast. Krista and Lindsay, thank you. Are so very excited to have you guys. 

Lindsey Simcik: So excited. 

Hala Taha: So, as I was researching for this interview, I found out that you guys say that you're in a marriage. Mm-hmm. And you guys recently joined the App Media Network. Mm-hmm. You know that I also have a business partner, Jason.

I always feel like we're married, even though mm-hmm. We're not romantically married. But talk to me about why you guys call yourself a marriage, and what does that really entail? 

Krista Williams: Mm. When you're in business with your best friend, especially, there are so many layers to the dynamic. Mm-hmm. And in a marriage, as you know, when you get married, you share finances, you share just deep growth and learning in all aspects of your life.

And when you [00:03:00] become entrepreneurs as best friends, you start to share finances first and foremost. And then you get into the deep mm-hmm. Work of becoming confident, successful entrepreneurs, which requires you to really look at every aspect. Yourself. Mm-hmm. 

Lindsey Simcik: And 

Krista Williams: every aspect of how you are in relationship.

So Krista and I have been through therapy, oh my gosh. Coaching. We have had really, really hard conversations about finances, about our vision for the future. Yeah. About what's working and what's not working. Mm-hmm. Yeah. And so there have been many times where like the lines are blurred. Mm-hmm. I'm like, I kind of wanna be more of your friend right now.

Yeah. Yeah. But we're in a business conversation. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And vice versa. So it's been something we always have to actively participate in. Yeah. And actively 

Lindsey Simcik: work 

Krista Williams: on. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. If you think about our marriage, almost 30 is our baby. Yeah. So with parents, sometimes we prioritize almost 30 our baby over [00:04:00] our relationship.

And so we're more in that role of the parents of our baby than we are as friends. And so it's sometimes felt like we've lost sight of friendship because we're so focused on the business and the growth of the business. And we also have to focus on aligning our dreams and visions for the future.

Yeah. In a marriage you have to continue to come back to like, where are we going? How are you feeling, where are we going? And we have to do that all the time. So whenever people wanna start businesses with their best friends, I'm always hesitant to tell them to do so. Yeah. Because most of the time it's fails when people do that.

And we've been really lucky. We put in the work during the process and it's been the most beautiful relationship of my life, but it's not easy. 

Hala Taha: Mm-hmm. Wow. I love that you guys are sharing this with us 'cause it's so interesting. Why do you feel like most of these business marriages with your best friends don't work?

What makes you guys work? 

Lindsey Simcik: So I think for most of us, the ideas that we were told about marriage were from Disney movies, were from media, were these ideas of marriage and relationships that are not actually real or supportive of healthy [00:05:00] dynamics and relationships. You know, we could essentially be in an unhealthy marriage forever, she and I.

But what we want for our lives is to be happy, to be fulfilled, to do something great. So now we came into our relationship, our marriage, with the idea of marriage being something where you sacrifice, you're not in alignment, you don't speak your truth, you don't ask for what you want, you don't create something amazing.

And so a lot of people go in with that thought like, this will just work without work. Yeah. I went into my previous marriage, I was married, and I kind of had that idea, if we just love each other, this will be fine. Right? But then you get into the marriage and you're like, oh, this is a lot of work. Mm. A lot of checking in with myself, checking in with you, realigning our values.

And so if you go into a business partnership without checking in on the relationship, checking in on the values, checking in on the direction of where you're going. It's not gonna work. 

Krista Williams: Yeah, 

something's gonna happen. You're gonna build up resentment and you're probably gonna end up breaking up. I think the most important thing that people need to look for in relationship for entrepreneurs is being able to communicate.

Hala Taha: Yeah. 

Krista Williams: Just like a [00:06:00] marriage, the number one thing in relationship is communication. Yeah. You need to be talking about how you're feeling, what's coming up for you, what you want, where you wanna go, what works for you, what doesn't work for you. And we've really focused on our communication and communicating respectfully and with love and with intention, and that's been the biggest thing that's really kept us together.

Hala Taha: That's so interesting. Talk to me about the communicating with love and respect. So if you guys are having a disagreement, how do you guys approach it? 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. We coined this phrase called clearing conversation. So this practice where there's usually something funky in the air, we're kind of feeling like something is off and we will schedule a walk and a walk because I think sitting down across from each other, staring into each other's eyes can be very.

Intense 

and kind of activate the body in a way that doesn't really support honesty and flow in a conversation. So oftentimes we'll go on a walk, we're moving our bodies, we're next to each other, and we're able to look at each [00:07:00] other, but also like give each other a break. And our intention in these clearing conversations is to bring truth and respect, to be a great listener and really have it be an experience of us against the problem, rather than Krista's the issue, we gotta get to the bottom of it, 

And that's really helped us because we all have egos. Mm-hmm. It's a thing. 

Yeah. 

And so when you approach a problem, it's easy to be like, you know, you did this to me and you made me feel this way. But in these clearing conversations, we are very intentional to use I statements. The story I'm telling myself is that you don't care about this part of the business, and I have to take it all on by myself. And in sharing these I statements, I'm able to see under the hood of like mm-hmm. What's been turning in Krista's mind. And then I'm able to say, oh, wow. If I believe that, I would be feeling that way too.

And it just gives us an opportunity to not only share our experience, but then to listen. Yeah. You know, I think [00:08:00] both of us are really great listeners and we listen with our heart rather than our minds thinking of what to say next. Mm-hmm. So the clearing conversation I think is essential for any friendship, any business partnership, any marriage as a standard in a relationship.

Hala Taha: So I got a chance to get to know you guys because we were doing negotiations for YAP Media. You just joined my network. Mm-hmm. Which is just so exciting. We're so excited. We're so excited. Um, and it seems like you guys wear totally different hats. Mm-hmm. Like I remember at one point Lindsay was like, I'm gonna handle the contract stuff, and you have your own stuff that you're handling.

So talk to us about how you divide the labor and how you think of that with your 

Krista Williams: company. Yeah. I think getting clarity on that is really important for any business in general and for really any business partners, especially for us. The way that we delegated roles happened naturally, but happened very early on.

So my experience was in the corporate. I worked in finance management consulting and I actually was doing some brand deals on the side as a blogger. And Lindsay was an actress. She worked at SoulCycle, so she was an [00:09:00] amazing performer. She knew a lot about production, she knew a lot about performance. She brought a lot to the table from the aspects of the business of creativity that I didn't really have access to.

Mm. So early on I was like, I'm gonna take on more of the business strategic part. 'cause that's where I was living before. So I actually had it 

Hala Taha: backwards. You're more the business. Got it. Okay. Mm-hmm. 

Krista Williams: And then Lindsay brought more of the creativity. So when we started building the business, it was like both of us working together and then we saw where we were fitting naturally and we claimed the domains.

Got it. And over the years, we had to reclaim domains of where we are and where we work because we were trying to overlap for quite a bit. And that doesn't really support us. You know, it doesn't really help for us to both be two cooks in the kitchen. So I'm more strategy, I'm more of the partnerships, I'm more of the overall ideas that we have that move the business forward.

And Lindsay is so helpful with the creativity. She's so helpful with. The relationship with the team. Mm-hmm. She's a great communicator with the team. So there's just stuff that she's naturally good at that she brings to the business. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. Do you guys, have you ever heard of Mind Pump the podcast? Yeah, we love them.

Okay. So Adam Schaeffer came on my show. Mm-hmm. Love them. [00:10:00] And it's four guys to talk about fitness, health, and he was telling me that their invested in all of their businesses together outside of just a podcast. Wow. So they all invest in real estate stocks. One of them wrote a book, they all get royalties even though they did nothing for the book, and they're just embedded in business together no matter what.

Wow. The endeavor is, so how do you guys look at it? I saw you have like a new YouTube channel. Mm-hmm. If you guys go do your own things, how do you think about it? And do you get. Jealous or competitive ever. 

Lindsey Simcik: It's all gonna come out right now. I 

Krista Williams: know, honestly. 

Lindsey Simcik: Um, 

Krista Williams: you know, I've been thinking about this. 

Lindsey Simcik: Well, I think what's so interesting, you know, when we started almost 30, we were going through a very specific time in our life, and the show has evolved as we Yeah.

Evolved. And I think with that evolution too comes our own very unique. Gifts and how they wanna be expressed in the world. So Krista has an incredibly successful coaching business retreat business. And so many of her gifts that could not be truly [00:11:00] fully expressed in almost 30 are now being expressed through those businesses.

And I'm exploring this new season of my life of motherhood and what that might look like in a community and brand sense. So thankfully we've always just been very, very supportive of the other. I think where the conversation comes in between us is, okay, we're in a season right now, currently in real time of being very full on with book.

Mm-hmm. And almost 30. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And candidly, I don't have a lot of energy to pour into new mom on the block or anything like that. And so. We've had moments where we're like, okay, we're deciding to be full on. Mm-hmm. We're gonna kind of pull back on our other things a little bit and just really be focused here.

Yeah. And I think that's important and important to share what's tough about this. Yeah. So what you're struggling with in your own lanes of your own business. Yeah. Because I think we can create stories in our heads about, do they wanna like go pursue that fully? Mm-hmm. Yeah. And like, what's gonna happen with almost 30 or, you know?

Mm-hmm. There's just a lot of stories [00:12:00] we can create or meaning that we can make out of something that. Is not really true. So again, it all comes back to that communication around this. 

Krista Williams: Yeah. And I feel like it would only benefit the business, you know? Yeah. Her succeeding or me succeeding is only benefits our business that we have together.

But I think what's been really beautiful about the way that we've evolved is we've always been like sovereign. You know, I think early on we were just doing everything together. We were so just embedded in one another, and we kind of had moments where we're like, okay, we are aware that this could be for a season, this could be for a time period in our life.

We don't wanna be so naive to think that we're gonna wanna be in business and financial business together for the rest of our lives. Mm-hmm. So investing in each other's businesses in that way. We have put money into things together. We have made investments in businesses together that are longstanding, but it's like.

I don't think, for me personally, it feels truthful for me to be embedded with one person forever. Mm-hmm. Financially or dream wise, I just like to do a lot of things. Mm-hmm. I like to create a lot of different things. I like to be my own person. I never wanna be boxed in anywhere, [00:13:00] so that type of business model wouldn't really feel good for me.

Yeah. But almost 30 has helped us as a foundation, show us what we're good at and show us what our audience wants more of. Yeah. For motherhood, obviously they're gonna see her. She's an amazing mother. She's built an amazing family. Around that. So they want more from her in that. So she's like, okay, cool.

I'm noticing this thing that almost 30 is providing for me. What can I do more of than that? Yeah. For me it's the coaching and retreats. How can I build more of this? And so it just allows us to be more robust of who we are and evolve in the business and pour more into the business because we're happier.

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. 

Krista Williams: You know, if you're kind of just looking to the business to feed and satisfy every one of your creative needs or pursuits, that doesn't feel true for me. Mm-hmm. I think having creativity spark and then going where it needs to go is what I like to do instead. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Hala Taha: I like that you guys are doing your own things outside of just mm-hmm.

Almost 30. 'cause you have been doing this for, what, nine years? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Has there ever been a moment where you're like. I just don't think we can do this anymore. Was there ever like a struggling point? 'cause I know in entrepreneurship around the [00:14:00] seven year mark gets really tough. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Did you guys have a tough moment?

Krista Williams: You know what's funny is we've been honest with each other about what life looks like past almost 30 But we've never had a moment where we fought or something happened where we wanted to throw in the towel. Like, yeah, we've always been very conscious about where this process is and thankfully we have a book coming out, so like mm-hmm.

The book feels like such a beautiful rounding of the 10 years. Yeah. We've been doing this. It's like all of our life's work. So we've really trusted that. And I think it's normal to feel like quitting, but it's actually just weird. I think that's what happens for me when I'm expressing myself creatively.

 In other aspects of my life. And I'm not holding this relationship to be the only thing that sustains me. It's just like romantic relationships. If she's supposed to be everything to me. Mm-hmm. If almost 30 is supposed to be everything to me, I'm not gonna be satisfied. Yeah. I need other things. I need other people.

I need other creative outlets. And because we've both done that, we both feel satisfied and we come back to the relationship excited to be here. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. So let's talk about how almost 30 started, because I think there's a lot of life [00:15:00] lessons that we can learn that mm-hmm. In itself. So tell me about how you guys first met and came up with the idea to start the podcast.

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. So we crossed paths at around 27. Mm-hmm. In our late twenties. We were going through it. The story goes that a mutual friend of ours introduced Krista and I because Krista wanted to audition for SoulCycle. Okay. SoulCycle was a very popular, trendy workout at the time. I was an instructor and we got connected, and I remember the day we scheduled a FaceTime.

Krista scheduled a FaceTime and said, you know. I wanna audition for SoulCycle. I would love to just pick your brain, understand the process. And I was happy to do it. I was really loving my time at Soul and just for anyone to wanna do it. I was like, yeah, it's amazing. Let's do this. So when we had our FaceTime, I was like, she's cool.

Like this felt natural. This felt like flow, you know? And that didn't happen for me. Mm-hmm. And so we stayed in touch. And through her process of auditioning, [00:16:00] she didn't end up getting it, but it connected us. And then eventually she moved to LA where we could see more of each other and really understand on a deeper level what each other was going through.

Mm-hmm. And it was a lot. Um, we were having relationship reckonings. We were at war with our bodies in different ways. We were running ourselves into the ground. We were individuating from our family and some of our friend groups that we no longer really felt aligned with. It was this upheaval that felt.

Like everything was crumbling, to be honest with you. Mm-hmm. And a lot of people go through this in their late twenties. We wrote a book about it, it's no joke. And what we found in our friendship was this comfort and just this healing and being able to talk about it. And so Krista came to me one day, we were at Bulletproof Coffee, which is a cafe love day.

Ba for you. Ugh. 

Well, that was one of my favorite spots that gosh, unfortunately does not exist anymore. I know. Um, and she was like, you know, I feel like we could start a podcast talking about the things that [00:17:00] we've been talking about just on a daily basis. I was like, mm-hmm. Yeah. I'm so down. I've always been someone that.

If you bring me a creative project, I'm like, let's do it. And I never really think about if it's gonna be a thing. If it lights me up, I'm down. So we started recording on our closet floors, sometimes in Krista's studio apartment in Venice, next to like laundry and whatever. Mm-hmm. There was no, was there a light in there?

There was no oxygen. I know that 

Hala Taha: because it, it wasn't video back then. No. No. Even when I started in 2018, no video. No video. Which 

Krista Williams: was the dream. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. It was so much better on this. I missed that because you just got to focus on the content. Same. Yeah. And you just 

Lindsey Simcik: get to rip. Yep. Like I really miss those days.

And we were on like a $15 recorder. Just thinking like, okay. Sometimes we record on the notes app on our phone. Yeah. Just love that. Have, have full episodes on the Notes app on our phone. Mm-hmm. I was listening the other day to Lake One, and then they were just, we'd have friends fake call in to the podcast and ask for advice.

Like, they'd be like someone, we'd be like, ask about this, and they'd be like, Hey, I'm Lauren. [00:18:00] I'm a listener. And they were like not a listener. It was like someone that we paid, like the guest was like my ex and his friends and we would just sit in these horribly sounding conference rooms with the worst sound ever, just echoing everyone's all over the place.

Yeah, dude. It was crazy. And just like talk, 

Krista Williams: it was not perfect. It was not organized. It was very just mess. It was a mess, but it felt so right. Mm-hmm. We were just moving. Mm-hmm. We were being moved. By the experience itself. So if we had waited mm-hmm. 

Lindsey Simcik: We had 

Krista Williams: waited to start until we got a studio and like, you know, had the business all set up and the strategy.

Right. We would've never started. Yeah. Yes. And so as we took action, that moved us. We were like, oh, this feels good, or Oh, this doesn't feel good. And we took another step. So it was really imperative that we started before we were ready. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. 

Krista Williams: Because we got so much intel. And in 2016, September, 2016, we launched the podcast.

Hala Taha: Amazing. 

Krista Williams: It's very different than it is today, but that's. Yeah. The story of things. Yeah. 

Hala Taha: People don't realize that you can just evolve [00:19:00] over time. Yes. Like my podcast cover has changed 10 times. Oh, I wanna see it. Oh my gosh. You are not, what was the worst? I used to have, like these cartoons of me say had a season, we had two seasons of cartoons.

Yeah. Two cartoons. 

Krista Williams: The one was like creepy. Yeah. One was like alien one, I don't even know. Because those 

Hala Taha: were hot back in the day. Those cars, this 

Krista Williams: was 

Hala Taha: real innovative back. Oh my gosh. Was 

Krista Williams: probably so cute. It was cute. 

Hala Taha: But like yeah, I had crazy colors. At one point, even the topic evolved. I went from careers to entrepreneurship.

Yeah. And your story reminds me of Jenna Kutcher, who's also in my network. Yeah. She started her podcast in her car. Yes. I love her. 'cause it was the only quiet place 'cause she had dogs and they would bark in the house. So she used to record her episodes in her car with her apple iPods. Yeah. Same with you guys, one of the top female podcasters.

Mm-hmm. In the world now. Yeah. And you guys started in your closet. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: Right? So you can evolve over time. Yeah. It doesn't have to be perfect. You don't need perfect equipment or even a perfect idea. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. I think that's [00:20:00] what, when I work with women or any business owners, I'm oftentimes, when they're showing me everything that they're like, here's my Pinterest board, I've got the Instagram handle, I've got this.

And they've got all the aesthetic. And I'm like, I love you girlies. But oftentimes that's procrastination for actually doing the thing. Mm. And I'm like, you can have the full package, the perfect package, but if you don't have the audience, if you don't have the consumer, like what are we even doing here?

Yeah. And I think I'm always someone that's a fan of building, building it while, and getting the reactions from peoples, 'cause you're like, okay, what do people, I'm gonna build it. What do you guys feel about this? Okay, cool. We're gonna go here. We're gonna go here. Like on the beginning of the business, people wanted to be in person.

So we went on tour, we did live in-person events, and then we like evolved from there. And so rather than just staying in your house and building something. How can you really bring it out into the world and be with it as it's evolving. Yeah. And be okay with that process. Yeah. 

Hala Taha: Get your reps in. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yes. 

Hala Taha: So you guys were working full-time jobs.

Mm-hmm. When you started the podcast, how did you balance your time and what advice do you have for other people who wanna start a Side Hustle podcast, whatever it is, [00:21:00] while they're working? 

Krista Williams: I have so much respect and love. So for anyone, this is me talking to you, I love you so much. That's working a full-time job and wanting to pursue your passion and your business and that thing that you're doing.

Because for me, in most of my life, in the corporate world, I had this burning sensation and desire to do something with my life. Mm-hmm. To be creative, to create, to be my own boss, to live a life that felt different, that felt different than the corporate life was giving me. And so when I moved to Los Angeles, I had quit to pursue blogging full-time.

Mm-hmm. So I was like, I'm gonna be a blogger full-time. I had no plan, no purpose. I wasn't making money, and that obviously you don't start making money from not making money. So I had to get a serving job. I was babysitting, I was nannying, I was doing odds and ends jobs at like 80 hours a week. I was like, okay, I can't do 80 hours a week and make so little.

So I was like, I have to go back to the corporate world. I failed at being a blogger. I failed at doing entrepreneurship, and I was really bummed. And it took me a long time to find another job. I'd been in [00:22:00] debt at that point, but I was like, okay, let's do this. So I got back to working in the corporate world.

That's when I met Lindsay at that, uh, beginning of that point. And it was beautiful because that job in the corporate world that I worked in, digital marketing, not only supported me financially, but supported me in learning skills that I could apply to almost 30. But just really was something that I'm so grateful for.

I don't think I showed up as the best employee. I wasn't someone that I don't think you'd wanna hire because I was so obsessed with almost 30. Yeah. But it was such a beautiful aspect of what we did. But what we would do is in the morning, Lindsay and I would talk on my way to work, to downtown land traffic.

We'd planned for the day. We'd talk about things that were going on, social media planning for the podcast. At my lunch break, I would answer almost 30 emails. I would do almost 30 social. We would figure out what we were doing with guests at the end of the day. Either she and I would meet and record, or we would do something related to the podcast.

So it was really something that on the weekends, during the week, we were just fully immersed and focused in the business, and it was just giving us so much life. Mm-hmm. Like it was just feeding us in this way [00:23:00] that I had never been fed before. So while I was definitely burning myself out and I wasn't very healthy at that point, it just felt really right.

Mm-hmm. And it felt really good and it was sustaining me in a way. In a purpose way that I wanted so badly to be sustained in. So even though I was just going so hard, I felt this feeling that I hadn't felt ever. Hmm. And I felt this drive to purpose that just felt and moved me in a way I hadn't been.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: Sometimes you need to sacrifice Yes. And work really hard, and it's just for a season. 

Krista Williams: Yes. 

Hala Taha: I also started my podcast as a side hustle, so I was working two years in corporate while starting this podcast, I started my company as a side hustle, and I didn't quit my job. I had 30 employees all around the world.

Wow. And I still didn't quit my job. Did they know? Wow. It was during Covid, so I got away with a lot. Mm-hmm. So it was like the summer of Covid, the first summer, and I just built this business. I was making over six figures a month in my agency, my social agency at first. Mm-hmm. And I still was nervous to be an entrepreneur.

Wow. So [00:24:00] I didn't quit my job until I was like really knew that I was gonna be safe and that everything would be okay. Mm-hmm. When did you guys feel like, oh my gosh, we don't need to work full-time jobs anymore. This has really taken off. When was that moment for you guys? 

Lindsey Simcik: For two years. We juggled our full-time jobs with building almost 30.

And in the beginning, Krista had these existing relationships with brands because of her blog, which was amazing. And really taught us how to build a working relationship with a brand and really make it personal. And I don't think that exists as much in podcasting anymore. Yeah. But it was a beautiful time where we could talk to a brand and say, what are your goals?

You know, how can we help you with your goals? Mm-hmm. And really make it collaborative. And so after two years of being in that flow, we were able to sustain ourselves. It was scary. Definitely. To quit. I think you quit in June. I quit in December. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So six months later I quit and we had a team to sustain.

Mm-hmm. [00:25:00] Like these are things that we definitely had to plan for. Mm-hmm. Um, and we would tell any, anyone who's building a business on the side that not to take the leap, not to just do it. Yeah. Without understanding the financial consequences or the risk. Because if you are focused on surviving and like making Yeah.

Money to support your team or the resources, then I. You're probably not going to be creating in a way that feels really in flow or aligned because you're coming from that place of fear. Yeah. Yeah. So it was important for us.

Krista Williams: I think when I first quit my job to pursue blogging full-time, I just thought it was like cute.

I was like, oh, I'm just gonna see what happens. I'm gonna see where the universe meets me. And then in the second part I was like, you know what's cute forecasting and like seeing how much revenue we have coming in for the next six months and seeing how much we're spending and seeing how much I need to earn to feel good and seeing how much you need to earn.

It's like I think it really asked and called [00:26:00] for me to step into a new level of. Truth and a new level of clarity that I didn't really give myself before with money. I was just, I didn't wanna look at it. And now I was like, how can I really see clearly what we're doing? Yeah. And how we wanna do this and how we wanna live.

Because if you wanna plan, you have to be able to be with money in a way that's neutral, be in a money in a way that's loving, be in with money in a way that's supportive of your goals. And I think my reframe of that, of being like, this money is what's gonna sustain my life. How can I look at it with respect?

Yeah. And get really clear about what's going on. Mm-hmm. Rather than just putting it to the wind. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. 

Krista Williams: But there was one moment I remember, we were in our full-time jobs. We got asked to speak at this event and we hosted the event the full day. I remember the amount that they paid us to speak at one session was the same as my biweekly paycheck.

 And I was like, in this one hour I was myself. I had so much fun I didn't have to put on, I wasn't faking it. And in the corporate world, I felt like I was faking it. I felt like I was putting on a mask every day. I felt like I had to be someone I wasn't. And I was [00:27:00] like, I know if I can make this much here, if you gimme 40 hours a week, watch me.

There's no limits how much money I can make. And so that moment for me was like the unlock where I was like, no, it's time. I love that. Mm-hmm. What was your moment 

Hala Taha: for me? 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. When you were like, it's time. 

Hala Taha: I remember that I found out I was gonna be on the cover of Podcast magazine. It was January, 2021.

And I was like, oh my God, people know me so much in my podcast that they want me to be on the cover of Podcast Magazine. Mm-hmm. And I was like, I have all these employees. The other moment was I hired my first US. Full-time employee. Mm-hmm. And she quit her job to work for me. And I was like, I gotta at least quit my job now.

Like I can't have a full time outta respect. Yeah. Obviously. So it was an amazing moment. Being an entrepreneur is so awesome, but to your point, knowing that you can actually sustain yourself and, and not just like jumping out the window. Mm-hmm. And sometimes that takes a [00:28:00] season of sacrifice. Yeah, of course.

And a season of just waking up super early and working late nights, and then you'll be safe and to your point, be able to create without all this stress because you're living paycheck to paycheck. Mm-hmm. Now, you guys have done an incredible job growing a loyal audience. Mm-hmm. Like it is not normal to achieve the type of success that you guys have achieved in podcasting.

So how do you think about your audience? I. 

Krista Williams: I think we've aligned this community because we were able to be so open from the get, you know, we were ourselves probably to a fault if you listen back to old episodes, but I don't think a lot of people were doing that. Mm-hmm. Back then in the podcasting space.

And especially speaking to women our age who were just going through so much and feeling alone. You know, I think we were speaking to that experience. We were speaking to the highs and the lows, and to give them the resources and the confidence to take the next step [00:29:00] forward, I think was probably more powerful than we could ever truly comprehend.

Mm-hmm. And what we found was that our ability to be more than a podcast was very important in our growth. Mm-hmm. So what that looked like was hosting events early on and saying, Hey, if we're gonna be hosting an event at the Soul Cycle in Santa Monica mm-hmm. We want all of our. Listeners in the local area to come.

We would sell it out. We would hang out afterwards, and slowly but surely, this in-person effect. We started to understand the power of it. We were able to hear their stories, we were able to hug them, we were able to really understand the impact of the show, and that would then influence the show. Mm-hmm.

So they've always been a part of our success and not in that literal sense of, yeah, they're our listeners, they're the numbers, but it's more so they've influenced the type of content that we create. They influence our next decision and, and what we wanna provide for them. So they have been [00:30:00] integral, and I think they feel that, I think they feel that in the way that we talk to them on the show in our content.

Mm-hmm.

Hala Taha: Do you think the events help spread Word of mouth? Because I feel like Sure. Huge. 

Lindsey Simcik: Of course there's so 

Hala Taha: much connection even with me, huge. When I do webinars and even though it's virtual, I feel like I get super fans. So I couldn't even imagine if I had my listeners in a live event. Like what kind of the best.

So do you feel like that really helped you, you guys grow? Oh, so much grow in 

Lindsey Simcik: the beginning. I think, you know, people, it's not like we were the first people to tour, but like it was just in 20 16, 20 17, 20 18, it was just a different world. Yeah. It's like podcasting really from 2020 has started to become what it is.

Yeah. Where it's more like show based. It's more touring. Yeah. And so we were touring just in this really native way. Like it was a world tour, but it was just super native. We'd bring on guests, we'd talk to people in person. And having that in-person connection was so instrumental. Mm-hmm. Not only 'cause we could learn from them and be with them and listen to them, but it was also like created this social media moment.

Yeah. Online that. Was growing us in a way, in a [00:31:00] marketing way that I don't think we would've had before. Mm. And it was creating this moment for people that were almost 30 that were struggling. Mm-hmm. That were like having their time. So I think that was instrumental to our growth. I think what we did there is, I.

What I always say with audience growth is you always wanna lead and listen. Mm-hmm. So we led by being like, you know what? We're gonna go on tour. And then we listen to them like, what do you guys wanna see from us? What do you want more of? You can't be fully listening all the time to your audience.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. 'cause then you're not who you are. Mm-hmm. The reason why your audience is with you is 'cause you're a leader and you are someone that is leading in culture. You are leading in whatever it is that you're an expert in, but you do have to listen to them 'cause they're incredibly important. Yeah.

They are the reason why you exist and why you are making money in the way that you are. So it's such a balance of just finding that balance between leading and listening mm-hmm. With your audience so that you can stay in your sovereignty and who you are, but also really connect with them in a real and genuine way.

Yeah. 

Hala Taha: I got a chance to interview Mel Robbins. Mm-hmm. In person a few months ago, and she does this incredible job of making it [00:32:00] seem on her podcast that she's only speaking to one person. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: And she's always telling her listeners, I love you. You're my friend. Mm-hmm. She really cares about simplicity and she says that if you try to act too complex or intellectual, you come off as elitist.

Mm-hmm. And superior. Mm. So she tries to make everything like really simple with her audience. Is there anything in terms of the way that you speak to your audience that you guys are really intentional about? 

Krista Williams: Mm. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. I love that. I feel like we learned so much from that. Yeah. There's just small indicators that she does that creates that intimacy with people.

And she's amazing friend of the pod, just an incredible speaker in that way. And she finds her lane and just really knows it. It's like, how can I make this simple, clear, relatable for people? That's also impactful, but for me, that's not my style. I'm like so out there mentally in the way that I think, I think when people can find their lane of what's working for them and really lean in on that and really dial in on that, that's what people should do instead of trying to [00:33:00] be other people.

But I think there's such a beauty to the simplicity. Yeah. But I think what's worked for us is really staying authentic to who we are. You know, in the moments where I was going through my divorce or in the moments where we were really struggling with various aspects of our lives and even in our relationship, we've been really honest about it.

And there's a magnetism to authenticity. Yeah. 'cause you don't know what's gonna happen next. You know what's true. There's this energy around it of truth. Of happening in the moment of relatability, of curiosity. Mm-hmm. Of intention and I, so I think it's us just staying as authentic as we can to who we are in the moment and hoping that people can really see themselves in us, in our struggle.

Mm-hmm. And what we're going through and find relatability in it and find inspiration where they can. Yeah. But overall, feel less alone. 

Hala Taha: Mm-hmm. So something that happens to me, which I think we probably have in common is my show name will sometimes cause confusion with my audience. So people will be like, don't get me started.

I'm too old to listen to Young and Profiting. And I'm like, no, we've got listeners of all ages. It's just young at heart. And I have like kind of explain, or even guests [00:34:00] will be like, well, I'm not young. And I'm like, if you've seen any of my shows, almost nobody is like mm-hmm under 40 years old who I interview, you know?

So it's not really about being young, but sometimes I'm like, oh man, I think my name is holding me back or is turning people off. And I often think about rebranding. Have you guys thought about that at all? Especially as you were getting older and or your audience? Do you worry that they're not evolving with you?

Or like, talk to me about that. Yeah. I 

Krista Williams: mean, it's the most common question that we get. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. Like, what's your podcast? I'm like, like, I'm almost 50. What about me? I like every, and everyone thinks they're just as clever each time we say the joke. So we have to laugh. We have to laugh as if it's the first time we've hearing.

And also bought every domain that's almost 40. Yeah. Every domain. Almost 40. Almost. Yes. Did every single one. Oh, I love that. Mm-hmm. I love that I'm a domain shark. It's like my pastime. 

Krista Williams: I think we obviously did not think about it when we named the show that it would be as successful as it is and live the life that it's lived.[00:35:00] 

But like you, we've just thought about it as this is such a metaphor, you know, we're all almost something. Mm. And that period of being almost 30. Is a foundational time to just build your relationship with change in a really healthy way. So you don't have to be almost 30 to listen to almost 30. But I think it is such a potent time that I hope that, especially in talking about the book now mm-hmm.

Like. People will think about that time, even if they've already been through it. Yeah. And see it as such an impactful reckoning in the grand scheme of their life. But yeah, we've, we've had moments where we're like, should we rename it? Yeah. Should we totally rebrand it? What do you think about it?

Hala Taha: I think about it all the time.

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. What's your Yes. And what's your No, 

Hala Taha: I think that I will rebrand my podcasts in the next year and a half. Cool. Probably even though so many know, know the name, but now Yap. Has kind of taken over and I feel like I could just call it Yap with Hallmark. Oh my gosh, that's true. Yap. And then that's it.

You know That's true. So I'm, I'm slowly a rebranding. Yap. So like, our logo used to say [00:36:00] Young and profiting now it just says Yap Media. Totally. So, so kind of rebranding to that. I could see you guys rebranding. I know. If you're allowed to evolve. Yeah, totally. It's been it for 10 

years. 

You know, it's like 

Lindsey Simcik: the two things.

It's like, and this is what's hard as an entrepreneur, you're like, okay, we have almost 30, there's a whole audience of people to serve. Do we wanna serve the almost 30 audience forever with the tools, research, insights, support for this pivotal time period, you know, that we talk about in our book and that we experienced ourselves?

Or is it something that we do kind of try to reach a new audience with a different name change? And it's tough. 

Hala Taha: I don't know if it's reaching a new audience. I think it's allowing your audience maybe to grow with you guys. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Because do you feel like you're getting new audience people like in and out, or do you feel like they're just growing with you?

I don't know. Both. Yeah, I think 

Krista Williams: it's both. Yeah. You know, I think. I think especially with the book, we're gonna get that influx of like definitely kind of new. Mm-hmm. Actual almost thirties people going through that time. But people have grown with us. I mean, we hear all the time. I've been with you since the beginning.

Mm-hmm. And they've been through so much with us. Yeah. [00:37:00] So it's both. 

Hala Taha: Well, I feel like with podcasting you can definitely speak to a range of people. Yeah. So I feel like it's safe to say that you guys would be able to cater to people who are in their mid twenties till their early sixties. Yes. And still be relevant, right?

Yeah. Yeah. The broader, the better in my 

Lindsey Simcik: opinion. When I have a man DM me that listens to the pod, like I'll have, I'll have 50 that are like, what's your outfit? Or what are you wearing for? And I'm like, ignore. And then a man, I'm like, I really love that relationship episode. I'm like, oh, I will spend my whole day like, just like when the unexpected people listen, it's just my dream.

Mm-hmm. I'm like, oh, if this is my like, and like you, we have an age range. Totally. Yeah. You definitely 

Hala Taha: have an age range. I'm sure. Well, you guys have done such a great job. So speaking of almost 30, you've got this new book mm-hmm. Coming out, which I loved. Thank you for giving me a copy of this.

You're welcome. So what was the idea behind this book? What did you wanna share with the world? 

Lindsey Simcik: I think we wanted to first culminate and put together everything that we've learned in the process of the rock bottom that we started at, where we met, and to building two [00:38:00] sovereign amazing lives that we love in your late twenties.

It's such a pivotal portal in time. And we realized that you're not lost, you're just becoming, and that in the process of this growth and transformation period, how can we approach it with excitement and with looking forward to the change in transformation? And I think if I would've had everything in this book when I was struggling so much with my mental health in my late twenties, I would've been so much happier.

I'd be so much further in life. Mm-hmm. And I would've felt so much more at peace. That age in your twenties is happier and more anxious and depressed than ever. People are struggling more with their mental health than ever before. People are feeling more lonely and our goal is to help people feel less alone in their process of awakening.

Mm-hmm. And so in the book we talk about how to support yourself through times of change and transformation, and we have research from studies, we have guests that we had on the show. Mm-hmm. Sharing insights and inspiration and it's just the guidebook for anyone going through their process. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. You guys talk about this concept called Saturn return.

Mm-hmm. Now this is a [00:39:00] very like nerdy entrepreneurship show. We usually don't get too like spiritual or into astrology, but I was telling you guys, I want my listeners to learn something new. I never knew about this. Mm-hmm. So talk to us about Saturn return. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. So when we learned about this, I mean it unlocked everything.

Yes. We were like, wait, actually what? We were going through that and everyone does so. The Saturn return is an astrological transit that happens for everyone. Where Saturn comes back to the place in your chart, it was when you were born, and Saturn is the planet. Think of it as like the dad comes in and is like, yo, 

Krista Williams: mm-hmm 

Lindsey Simcik: This is not working.

This is not aligned. We gotta look at this. We have to be truthful and honest about this and make changes, and it can feel like your life is falling apart. Mm-hmm. It can feel like everything you've known to be true is actually coming up for questioning in a really big way. So whether it's your career, your relationships, your relationship with yourself, or you wanna live what you wanna do, what your purpose is, it's a very existential crisis [00:40:00] type season, but it is also probably your greatest opportunity yet in your life to.

Get to know yourself in a way that will be a foundation for the rest of your life. So for Kristen and I, we had themes of relationships come up where I was going through a really intense breakup and I thought I was gonna marry this person. I thought I would be married by the time I was 27, have kids by the time I was 29, and then we'd walk off into the sunset, whatever.

Mm-hmm. And that didn't happen. And I was like, wait, so now what? Mm-hmm. You know, who am I then? Who am I without him? Who am I if this isn't the plan? But I think what Saturn has the opportunity to show you is that I. Yeah, we can have a plan based on how we grew up and all the things, but there is a much more expansive plan and life for you if you lean into the unknown.

So, you know, it's a practice. It's a practice to [00:41:00] be able to have faith in something that you don't know what the next step is, but I think Saturn will really teach you that that is the way. Mm-hmm. You know, that is truly the way 

Hala Taha: and that's something that just happens every 28, 29 years. Mm-hmm. So it's like just a few pivotal points in your life.

Yes. Maybe three or three. Yeah. Hopefully three. Yeah. Yeah. Hopefully three times if you live long enough. Yeah. Brian Johnson, you're 

Lindsey Simcik: four. 

Hala Taha: I'm kind of like sad that I missed mine and I didn't know about it. You know, I wonder what was, 

Lindsey Simcik: what was happening when you were 27 to 30? 

Hala Taha: I shut down my blog and got my MBA and went into corporate.

There you go. Because I felt like I needed to grow up. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm. 

Hala Taha: I felt like, oh, I need to grow up. Yeah. I need to like. Take care of myself. Yep. No more pain. Your prefrontal 

Krista Williams: cortex is also coming online during that time. So your prefrontal cortex is actually responsible for you making decisions like that. Yeah.

Where you're like, I'm gonna be more thoughtful, I'm gonna be more strategic. Mm-hmm. I'm gonna be more diplomatic about how I'm spending my time. So it's not only like the Saturn return period, but there's a lot of brain development that's [00:42:00] happening that changes how you operate with life in the world.

Mm-hmm. Where you're like, okay, now with my prefrontal cortex online and becoming conscious, how am I gonna approach relationships? Yeah. How am I going to approach my career? How am I gonna approach my friendships? And there's just so much change happening that. It's just can feel like a washing machine if you're not really being mindful of it, and if you don't have the permission to see it as an opportunity to lead you to a better life.

Hala Taha: Yeah. You were just talking about friendships. Mm-hmm. Huge. And I know in your book you talk a lot about making sure you've got the right people around you. Talk to us about your advice related to that. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah, I think especially for entrepreneurs, I mean the entrepreneur journey you, in my perspective, and this could be wrong, so I was in corporate and being an entrepreneur.

The entrepreneur has a different type of mindset. You have a different type of set of values and priorities. And so it can be hard actually as an entrepreneur to relate to people in the corporate world, I think. Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Um, so just thinking about that for your entrepreneurial audience, just really understanding that your friendships are gonna change.

I think the [00:43:00] number one thing that you can remember and accept in life is that your friendships are gonna change. Mm-hmm. And that's okay. I think for me, for so long, I felt so much shame that I didn't have the same. Four girlfriends that I grew up with. Hmm. And it wasn't Sex in the City and it wasn't girls, and it wasn't like every movie that I saw where everyone was best friends with the same people for their entire lives.

Yeah. I had friends come in and out. I had changes, I had transitions, and that actually was a good thing. That was showing how I was changing, how I was evolving. Yep. How I was prioritizing different things like not drinking or partying or mm-hmm. My business or spirituality. And so accepting that friendships will change is number one, I think.

Number two, seeing friendships as a vehicle for your growth, just as deep as your romantic relationships is huge. Mm-hmm. My romantic relationships have been so powerful for me, but my friendships have been such a place for growth and support and love, and now I see my friendships as equal to my romantic relationships.

They really see me, they hear me. They've been with me and [00:44:00] women, especially in women relationships. Mm-hmm. Yeah. The way that we can see and support one another is just next level. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. I love that you're saying that because I know that in my twenties when I was in relationships, I'd be the type of girl that would be not prioritizing my friendships.

Mm-hmm. I would just get sucked into my relationship. I'd be, oh, I'm sorry. I'm with him. We all have to do that, you know? And then you lose your friendships. Then you break up and then you realize like, oh crap. Yes. I did not do a good job being a good friend, and now I don't have any friends. Mm-hmm. Because I was prioritizing my boyfriend Yes.

And all this kind of stuff, and now. I look at my girlfriend relationships as actually sometimes more important than my romantic relationships, because they'll be with me no matter what. Mm-hmm. Yeah. They're not gonna go fall in love with somebody else, so they can't 

Lindsey Simcik: cheat though. They'll hang out the other girlfriend, you're like, what are you guys doing?

Yeah. I'll never forget that my mom, after getting divorced, she was like, you know, never lose your girlfriends. Mm-hmm. She's like, your girlfriends are just so important and. You know, I love men so much, but the texture and richness of [00:45:00] my life has been so benefited by deep female friendships and relationships.

And being an entrepreneur is not easy. You meet up against limiting beliefs and mindset, like setbacks all of the time. You have fear, you have overwhelm, you have stress. You're putting yourselves out there, you're doing cringe things. And so to have cheerleaders in your corner or have people that really see you and support you has kept me going 100% of the way.

Krista Williams: And I think in the Saturn return period, for those friendships that are for that lifetime vibe, they require that update. You know? Mm-hmm. Because you're kind of working on like old patterns. You're working on old everything. And so if you feel like you're changing, most likely your friend is changing too.

Yeah. Mm-hmm. But you both are holding on to how the friendship has always been. So I think with the select few in my life, I've had to just have like a come to Jesus moment of like, Hey, this is actually what's important to me right now, or this is what I. Have capacity for, 'cause sometimes, for example, in friendships, you don't [00:46:00] see each other as much.

Mm-hmm. Yeah. Maybe 'cause you've gotten married or maybe you've moved, maybe you don't touch base as often and we can make so much meaning out of that. And so if you have a conversation where it's like, listen, I would love for when we connect, it's just really quality and we're able to be really present.

Hala Taha: Yeah. 

Krista Williams: I think that is super, super important because I don't know about you, but anytime I would change within a romantic relationship mm-hmm. My then boyfriend would be like, man, you've changed, you know, would have such a problem with change. That's true. Yeah. And then with friendships, I always felt like, oh gosh, I can't change because then they're gonna feel a type of way.

So I just giving people permission to change within their relationships and have actual conversations about it, I think is really important. Yeah. 

Hala Taha: For everybody tuning in, whether they're, man, I actually have a lot of male mm-hmm. Listeners. Mm-hmm. Sure. So whether they're, they're men, women, if they're thinking about a career change.

Career pivot. Mm-hmm. How should they think about it? 

Krista Williams: I think that [00:47:00] rumbling happens for a lot of people. Mm-hmm. Where like you are at a job that you've been at for a while, maybe most likely you're really good at what you do. You get rewarded for that. You are maybe on a path where you have an upward trajectory.

Mm-hmm. But there's something within you that just says, I think there's something more and I think I wanna pursue something else. Or, you know, something else does light me up and I would love to see what would happen. And so I think first of all, you have to get really clear about that. Mm-hmm. Is there an opportunity to pivot within the actual company that you're in?

Because it's maybe just a feeling of what you're doing. Is it no longer aligned? Is there another position at the company if it's a bit more than that and you actually wanna pursue something else, which we both have done many times over. I think it's getting clear about how do I wanna feel on a day-to-day basis.

What really lights me up asking those. Questions about the feeling part of it, logistics will come in. But I [00:48:00] had to get clear that what was moving me in that direction came from like this place rather than the overanalyzing of everything. Mm-hmm. 

Lindsey Simcik: If that makes 

Krista Williams: sense. Yeah. So when I pivoted, for example, from pursuing my acting career to the podcast, I had to make a conscious pivot.

Mm-hmm. I could no longer do both. Mm-hmm. And I think for me, the question was how do you wanna feel on a day-to-day basis? And I wanted to feel like I was creating, mm. 

I 

was creating literally something, but also my future. And with acting, I was waiting to be chosen. Mm. So it made it so clear that that pivot was right for me to completely let go of the acting and pursue the podcast full time and let that go.

Hala Taha: Something that you just said like really spoke to me. The fact that you were basically saying, I'm in control now. Mm-hmm. I'm not gonna wait to get chosen. And I feel like with entrepreneurship that is. Such an amazing part of entrepreneurship that you get to control your life. Mm-hmm. I dealt with like a lot of rejection.

I was rejected by [00:49:00] radio and TV and satellite radio, and then I started my podcast and Yes. Did great. You know? Wow. Yeah. And so I'd love to hear from you of how did being an entrepreneur change you mentally, spiritually. Mm-hmm. How did it change you on your journey? 

Krista Williams: It helped me become more of who I came here to be, to be honest.

It gave me the tools, it gave me the friction. It gave me the feedback to allow me to be who I came here to be. And that was someone that's using her voice, someone that's standing in her power, someone that knows what she wants, someone that's clear on where she's going, and someone that has to meet every growth edge.

I feel like in the corporate world, I was just spending a lot of my time and my energy towards someone else's vision that I didn't really even align with in the first place. And I was there for money, probably out of fear of not having money or not having purpose. And when you're an entrepreneur. You're putting all your eggs in your own basket, I guess.

And I feel like it's really just helped develop me as a better person because the more clear I am with my [00:50:00] relationships within business, within my personal life, the more business I'll get, the more business will grow. Mm-hmm. And it's been so powerful. You know, I couldn't see my life being any other way, but self-led and self-made.

Mm-hmm. Through entrepreneurship, and I'm so glad for it. 

Hala Taha: Mm. What about you, Lindsay? 

Lindsey Simcik: To be honest, when we first started, I was so insecure about it. Mm-hmm. Because I didn't have a corporate background. I came from being my own, I suppose, entrepreneur in my acting life, where even though I was waiting to be chosen, I was having to self-motivate every day to go on auditions, to meet agents, meet casting directors.

Mm-hmm. So I had that experience within me as far as entrepreneurship goes. But when it came to the business side. I just felt so insecure. But I think what I realized was that as an entrepreneur, you're meant to really double down on your gifts, you know? Yes. Mm-hmm. And you will learn everything else along the way.

You know, I've learned so much about business and just [00:51:00] doing it and making mistakes and learning from Krista. So it's been really important for me to acknowledge the insecurities around what I don't know. Mm-hmm. But actually, that's not where my focus is meant to go. Mm-hmm. You know, my focus is meant to double down on what I'm really good at.

Yeah. And really step in there, because especially in a partnership. 

Yeah. You 

know, we've come together so well, like a puzzle where like my strengths are something that fit perfectly in the puzzle, and then Krista fills in her strengths, where I'm kind of like lacking. So it's, it's been really, really beautiful.

But entrepreneurship has given me just a lot of confidence in every aspect of my life. Mm-hmm. You know, I think when I think about. Starting over in any way. I think about almost 30. Mm-hmm. You know, I, I just always reference that experience of just building something from nothing. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Building it from an idea and I'm like, oh yeah, I can do this. Mm-hmm. You know, it's like it really adds to that well of [00:52:00] confidence that you have for the rest of your life. Mm-hmm. I love that. 

Hala Taha: So, one of my last questions for you guys, if somebody is almost an entrepreneur 

Lindsey Simcik: mm-hmm. They have the idea 

Hala Taha: of becoming an entrepreneur.

They're in this transition period, they might be working a corporate job. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: What is your advice to how they should treat this period and their next steps? 

Krista Williams: Mm-hmm. This is my personal belief, but I feel like a lot of people wanna be an entrepreneur for the idea of what being an entrepreneur is. They kind of see what's happening online on social media.

They're like, oh, you work from home, or you work on the beach, or. It's sexy. Like there's a lot of entrepreneurship. I think especially too earlier in the previous times that was like girl bossy. Yep. And made everything really, really sexy and fun and like really instagramy and marketing and it's not like that.

It's the most challenging thing that you'll do. And it has made me so insecure at times and so low at times, and so unsure of myself at times. But it's also been so powerful. So I would check first, what is the actual desire? 'cause I think entrepreneurship doesn't [00:53:00] happen. I think your creativity and your idea happens.

Hmm. I think you build what you want to do. You become who you wanna be, you create what you're here to do, and then you become an entrepreneur. So I think it should be led by something that comes internally, like something that you feel like has to exist in the world. Mm-hmm. So I think waiting until you have that calling that like desire, that feeling like you feel it in your gut.

Yes. You're like, this needs to exist. I need to create this thing because it doesn't exist and I feel like my life sucks without it, my life isn't as good without it. So I think waiting until you're so called that the things that come up and the how of it all just goes away. Mm-hmm. So when your why is so strong, your how, just, it doesn't even matter how it happens.

Mm-hmm. Like our passion and obsession with our connection and really finding this reason to help people feel less alone, drove us to like, stay up late at night, invest money and take the risk. And so. What I would say is find that thing or wait for that thing or look intently at the world a little differently with a different lens to see what is needed [00:54:00] and then create that.

Mm-hmm. Any thoughts, Lindsay? 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah, I think, I mean, your business that you start will be your mirror, and so it's, I think, imperative from the get to understand that this will bring up a lot about you. Mm-hmm. And what you are bringing to the table. And so for me it's about having a therapist, you know, having like resources and tools so that I can come to each moment as aware and as conscious as possible.

It's not always gonna be perfect. But how you do one thing is how you do everything. Mm-hmm. And I think with a business, for me, it was showing me where I could really step into my worth. It was showing me, you know, how I could become a better communicator in all aspects of my life. Mm-hmm. So I think to be prepared for that and maybe even set yourself up by having a coach or a therapist from the get, I know it's an investment, but it's the most worthwhile investment I've ever made and helps me both in business and personal.

Yeah, that's a good one. What would you say that's good advice? 

Hala Taha: So somebody's about to become an entrepreneur. Mm-hmm. 

Krista Williams: Mm-hmm. I really 

Hala Taha: like your [00:55:00] advice of why are you doing this. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Is it because you just wanna make money? Is it because you feel like being an entrepreneur has some clout with it?

I feel like you need to really understand if you have a good business idea. Yeah. So like for me, the big thing is can you make money? Mm-hmm. Can you get customers? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Will people pay for this thing? 'cause a lot of people have these ideas that nobody wants. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: And I see that time and time again.

Yes. I remember one time somebody was like on a webinar with me and she was talking about how she's like building an app. Something about like naming your star sign. Mm-hmm. Or something like this. And it was such like a far out there idea. Maybe it's 'cause I'm not into astrology mm-hmm. Or whatever it is.

Mm-hmm. But to me, I was like. Okay. Is that something that you want mm-hmm. Or that other people want? Mm-hmm. And so for me it's about channeling demand, not trying to create demand. So find something that people already have a problem with, like in a lot of people. Mm-hmm. And a problem where you know how to [00:56:00] find these people.

Mm-hmm. Like they label themselves something. Mm-hmm. They're all hanging out in the same places. Mm-hmm. They have the same titles, they've gone to the same schools, or they work at the same places because then your job is easy. You just find those people that have that problem and you sell to them. Mm-hmm.

But I find time and time again, people have solutions to problems that don't exist. Mm. Or you can't find any customers. Mm-hmm. So I just feel like you have to know that your customers exist and that they actually have a problem that they're willing to spend their money on. Mm-hmm. Yeah. That's a good one.

And, and this solution also has to somehow increase their status. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. In some way, you know? 'cause 

Hala Taha: people just buy based on. Increasing their status, whatever it is, they make every decision based on if it's gonna increase my status or not. So is it gonna improve my wealth? Are people gonna think more highly of me if I have this thing or if I fix this problem?

Right. So it's all based on status. So it's it, does it impact their status? 

Lindsey Simcik: Wow. You know, interesting. [00:57:00] People are great. Like I just, sometimes they're like, wow, we're doing that. You know, I do that. Of course I'm doing stuff like that, but it's like beauty. It's the health thing. 

Hala Taha: Exactly. Wow. Yes. Okay. So my last question that I ask all of my guests, you can just answer from your heart.

You both can answer each one. So what is one actionable thing our young and profits could do today? Mm-hmm. To become more profitable? Let's go with the business mind first, 

Lindsey Simcik: I think to become more profitable. A book that I love, that I recommend is called A Happy Pocket Full of Money. Have you read that?

Mm-hmm. It's really, really good about the relationship you can have to money and the energetics of money. And it's been incredibly profound and transformative for me. I think when you think about becoming more profitable, there's so many different aspects of it related to your business, but if the foundational relationship you have to the energetics of money isn't there Mm, you're never gonna become more profitable.

Mm-hmm. So getting your relationship right, the energetic frequency and the connection you have with money is gonna be incredibly [00:58:00] helpful. Hmm. When I could finally meet money and respect and love money in the way that I do, I'm so grateful for the way money moves in my life. I'm so grateful for the way money gives me freedom, for the way money supports my health, for the way money supports my family.

Like I have so much respect and love for money. So money loves to work with me. Mm. Money loves to be around me. Money loves to hang out with me, money loves to move through me. And once you can have that, you can really see how money can move more in your business. Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: Can we actually stick on this for a little bit?

Yeah. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. 

Hala Taha: I feel like I have. An incredible relationship with mine. Mm-hmm. Sometimes I wonder, I'm like, how do people not make money? Like mm-hmm. I feel like I just attract money left and right. Right. That's Where do you think that comes from? My dad was a surgeon. Cool. But he grew up super poor. Mm-hmm. So my dad grew up in Palestine, Palestinians.

Mm-hmm. So he grew up with no running water. He was dirt poor. He became a surgeon. And then when I was growing up, he never wanted me to feel like. Money was an obstacle because it was for him. Sure. [00:59:00] So like, if I wanted to buy anything, I remember one time he bought me like a thousand dollars Furby, you know, like on Q vvc when it was really popular, my dream, you know?

And he spent a thousand dollars to give me this furby. His phrase was, if something was a hundred dollars, he'd be like, oh, that's free. I'm obsessed. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm-hmm. And he would always just tell me, that's free. 

Hala Taha: That's free. Wow. Okay. Dad, can I have this money? Oh, sure. No problem. So he made me feel like money was just so easy.

Wow. And so my whole life I just thought money is easy. Wow. And now I just make a lot money all the time. You know, like we just like have these huge deals and then sometimes I think. When people like, make such little money, I'm like, how? How are they making such little money? You know? So I have a really good, but I have bad relationships with other things, you know what I'm saying?

So like, money just happens to be good for me. But talk to me about your relationship with money, and I think a lot of people have things with money in terms of their 

Lindsey Simcik: beliefs. Oh, of course. Yeah. I mean. It's so much. [01:00:00] It's the hierarchy of money. Money means worth. Money means safety. Money means security.

Money means you're bad. Like if we look at the media programming, a lot of the media programming, the villains are rich. So we have this idea that having money is bad. Jesus had no money. You know, like the gurus and the saints and the cultural leaders from a religious perspective, we're usually poor. So we have this embedded idea around money and the relationship to money in our lives, and I think so many of us have grown up with money is shameful.

You don't talk about it. You don't talk about money, you don't talk about sex, you don't talk about religion. So not only are we not talking about it, but we're living in a society that's telling us that money is bad, but yet all the people at the top are figuring out ways to get money. Mm-hmm. So I think when we can really take our power back and have a beautiful relationship with money, money actually isn't anything.

It's like paper. Yeah. 

Hala Taha: Mm-hmm. So we're actually placing 

Krista Williams: all this energy and value and thought and meaning to paper. So like, how are we, can we take the power back and be like, this is a tool for me. Mm-hmm. To live my life in the way that I want. This is something I deserve. This is something that I can move through me energetically [01:01:00] and become something that can be supportive of the life that I want.

Lindsey Simcik: And I think so many people take what they learned or did not learn when they were younger from their parents and use it as like an excuse. Mm-hmm. Not to rewrite their relationship with money. So it's like, my parents never taught me about I, this is something I've done. My parents, I'm like, you're like someone this, this girl.

My parents never taught me about balancing my checkbook or like how to manage money or how to invest or how to work with a credit card. Like never none of that. And there was always stress around money. There was always. Fights were started over money, always. Mm-hmm. So I really had this stiff arm approach to money where I'm like, money's over here.

I don't really wanna look at it. I don't really wanna talk about it. I've had very, very abundant times in my life, and usually that's because I am not connecting money to my worth, and I am just living in a way that's like incredibly aligned. I'm using my gifts and [01:02:00] that's usually when I have a lot of money coming in.

But any period of time where I've literally held money as I'm going to feel okay today, if I have this amount in my bank account, I. It's evaded me. Mm-hmm. At all costs. Yeah. So it's just really interesting. Like Krista said, the relationship with money on an energetic level I think is important. But also looking at where did your money story come from?

Yeah. You know, just being really honest about it and knowing that you can rewrite it right now. Yeah. Like in this moment you can start rewriting it. You don't have the like scarlet letter on you for the rest of your life. Mm-hmm. You can absolutely rewrite this. And I think for me it helped to understand why my parents had the beliefs that they did.

Yeah. Yeah. I just had more compassion. I didn't have as much resentment towards them. Mm-hmm. Yeah. So, um, yeah, I just think it's so important that we kind of detangle that before we rewrite them now. Yeah. 

Krista Williams: We talk about that 

in the book. 'cause I mean, especially in your late twenties, like 60% of people have student debt.

You start to make more money in your late twenties. You're changing jobs. Like a lot of people are getting married for the first time they're having children. So there's [01:03:00] so many different financial things that are happening to people during that time. So I think for me, the rebel part of me is always like, I just wanna somehow take the power back from the system and like figure out how to, yeah.

Live my life outside of it, live my life freely, and it doesn't mean I'm buying a yacht or a private jet. It means I'm living in a way that feels luxurious and free to me. Yeah. That feels expansive to me, and I want that for everyone. Mm-hmm. We all humans deserve that. And the more we can break outside of the systems that we're in and really see first of all our inherent worth for money, then money comes to us.

Mm-hmm. Like what you have. Yeah. Already. 

Hala Taha: I love that. 

Krista Williams: I love your dad. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. My dad was awesome. He's also really generous. Mm-hmm. So taught me that too. Like he would spend all his money just sending kids to college. Mm. There you go. You know what I mean? So I got both being super generous and then getting the money right.

That is powerful. That is so beautiful. How about you? What is one actionable thing our young and profits can do to become more profitable tomorrow? 

Lindsey Simcik: Oh boy. I think it's about relationships. So in terms of your [01:04:00] audience? Mm-hmm. Your customer. Like how can you be, come even more human with them. Mm-hmm. Even more connected to them.

And oftentimes that means. Vulnerability. Mm-hmm. From you as the founder, or more vulnerability in the intention or the process in creating the product? Mm. It could come in different forms, but I think that vulnerable storytelling and that honesty is something that differentiates you and I think really makes people buy in.

You know, they wanna support a brand or a product that has a story. I do. I just think in this day and age, there's so many things that we can buy. There's so many things we can invest in, and it's like. At a point, it just kind of hurts. You're just like, okay. There's just so much stuff. Yeah. But when I find a brand where the story is just so mm-hmm.

Impactful and so moving, I'm like, I wanna, I wanna support that. Let me put my dollars there. Mm-hmm. So I think bringing in more storytelling about your story or just the path of creating this product mm-hmm. Um, I think could be [01:05:00] really, that's a really, really profound, 

Hala Taha: that's something that you said really spoke to me and that was caring about your customers.

I don't remember who told me this, but they were saying, you've gotta love your customers. Yeah. Because if you love them, they'll feel that love and people refer something based on what it's gonna make them look like. They'll refer you Wow. And put their own brand reputation on the line. And they'll only do that if they feel like they love you so much that they're willing to put the reputation on the line.

And they'll only feel that way if you actually love and really care about your clients. Wow. Yeah. That's so true. You know what I mean? So you really need to care about your clients, love your clients. Think about them. How can you do the best job possible no matter what you sell or what you do? Right? Yeah.

Okay. Last question. Okay. This is really fun. Thank you guys for joining us. We're a little portal. I know. I know. Okay. What is your secret to profiting in life? And this can go [01:06:00] beyond business 

Krista Williams: prayer and God. Mm-hmm. That's just my vibe. I feel like having a spiritual foundation or having a foundation of like a anchor point for my life has just been exponentially beneficial to all my relationships, to the way that I move to what I prioritize.

To what I wanna create. And I feel like, you know, it might not be for everyone, but for me it's been what's really given me abundance in ways that are not just financial. Mm-hmm. But spiritual and meaningful in my life. 

Hala Taha: Yeah. Were you always religious? 

Krista Williams: So I grew up Catholic. I grew up in a small town in Ohio, and so it was very religious, it was very conservative, and I kind of lost my way, you know, I, I was like nihilistic for a while.

I was like just figuring things out and I kind of refound my faith in the past couple years, probably 5, 6, 7 years. And it doesn't mean that it's religiously attached or connotated, I wouldn't say that I'm attached to any [01:07:00] religion, but it's something that feels like really perfect for my algorithm.

Mm-hmm. Perfect for my type of spirituality and the way that I move. But yeah, I grew up religious and had to refind it. 

Hala Taha: I'm asking personally. Yeah, I gotcha. 'cause I'm not connected to any religion personally, but I always think, oh my gosh, I really wanna have religion. So what did you do to get connected to your 

Krista Williams: spirituality?

Spirituality? So, mm-hmm. I think I had a rock bottom humbling event. I think Lindsay and I both had this moment of humbling, and then we also had an amazing coach that we worked with that brought God back into our life in a way that was very offering and helped us metabolize the idea of just sort of naming the creator, naming this infinite source of love and support and helping me reapproach God in a way where it wasn't a man in the sky that was punishing me or had this idea of how I should live or hated me if I did this and didn't like me if I did this.

It was like, what if there was this benevolent co-creator with of life that you had that loved you endlessly, and that [01:08:00] was there for you endlessly, and that was just a guiding partner for everything that you do and. So there was a lot of my spiritual practice and process that kind of led to this. I had been done so much energy work.

I had done so much study of different religions and spirituality through the podcast, but it was really that coach in a rock bottom moment that was like, you know what? I give up all of this to like one creator. Mm-hmm. And that's sort of how I'm gonna build my foundation. I still do a lot of different spiritual tools and practices.

I'm very open, but having the anchor is the most supportive for me. Hmm. I 

Hala Taha: find that almost every successful person that I meet is grounded in that way. A hun. Mm-hmm. 

Krista Williams: I've actually, that's crazy. 'cause I've noticed that too. Yes. The people that I see at the, the level that I wanna be Yeah. They're anchored.

Yeah. 'cause you could get blown in the wind. You could go fall for this fall. For that fall. Like there's a lot of things here that could pull you off of your path and your truth. Yes. And having just something where I'm like, okay, what am I working towards? Who am I working with? What are like my guiding principles for how I [01:09:00] wanna live, and it just helped so much.

Mm-hmm. 

Lindsey Simcik: Yeah. I have to second it. I'll be, I'll be boring inside. Me too. No, it's real. It's been, I had obviously a similar experience with Krista, with our coach, but my now husband also came into my life around that same time. Mm-hmm. A little bit after. And he's also brought that aspect of faith into my life.

And to be able to connect so intimately on faith with someone that you love in that way was something I've never experienced. Mm-hmm. And just opens up this whole realm of possibility when it comes to, yeah. Just being a human on earth, you know? It's like we don't have to shoulder everything. Yeah. You know?

I think that's what I saw growing up. Yeah. I saw my parents shouldering everything, even though my mom was spiritual. Like they just shouldered so much and now it's just. My greatest joy to be able to like just give things up to God. Yes. And just be like, I trust [01:10:00] you. You know? Like, I don't know what's next.

Yes. But I trust you and thank you. And yeah, there's just this experience of gratitude in my life now that I feel so much more 

mm-hmm. 

Than I ever have before. And I think that's been the fuel. 'cause even when things are hard. Yeah. And I'm like, man, this is like a really hard season. I'm always just like, but I'm so grateful.

Yeah. I'm so grateful for this pruning season. This, I know you're working on me and I trust it. And so, yeah. I think for me, someone who does take on a lot and can overanalyze things, it's been the greatest gift to just be like, God, I totally trust you. Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: This is, that's so beautiful. You guys are inspiring me.

Mm-hmm. 

Krista Williams: Yeah. And it can look like the way you want it to look you, I think we think of, and honestly, let's just say we name God in the book. We say God and we say like, mm-hmm. You call it whatever you wanna call it, but it was actually a, A choice. Yeah. I know there's a lot of 

Lindsey Simcik: names people have for God. 

Krista Williams: Yes.

And it 

Lindsey Simcik: could be [01:11:00] really triggering. I think people have a lot of religious deprogramming that I think we kind of have to do as a culture and society, but I reclaimed God in a way that feels a little rebellious to the way that I was taken away from God through religion. Yes. 

Hala Taha: Do you mean like when people say like source energy and stuff like that?

Lindsey Simcik: Sure. Yeah. I mean, source energy works, whatever works for people that gets them anchored in there. For me, I just felt like God was presented as something that was not loving and was not the way that I wanted and for me to be like, actually it's not, that's the church. That's, man. Got it. What I'm, what you're talking about is, man, what my God is all loving, my God is all knowing my God is with me.

So it's like, oh, actually I just, I was kind of looking at it through this religious lens that like I don't Yes. And you had to unlearn that. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Mm-hmm. Yeah. How do you see it? 

Hala Taha: That's how I feel. I feel like God is really loving. I feel like there is something out there. 

Lindsey Simcik: Mm-hmm. 

Hala Taha: I grew up Muslim.

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. So, and but I don't feel like aligned to that religion. Yeah. But I think it's primarily [01:12:00] because I just don't really understand Arabic. Yeah. I didn't understand anything. Yeah. Totally. Right. And so, like, I always connected with Christianity more because all my boyfriends were Christian. Yeah.

And I go to church and understand what was going on. Yes. Yeah. So I think it's just more of like, 'cause it's all the same stories. It's, it's really, really similar. Yes. So I think it's just a matter of feeling connected just because I can actually understand it, if that makes sense. And I know there's translations and stuff, but still like.

You pray in Arabic, and I don't understand what I'm saying. So it's, it's just, it's hard to feel connected if you don't understand what you're saying. For sure. A hundred percent. So that's something I'm looking forward to exploring. Mm-hmm. There's a book called Secrets of Divide Love. I'm almost Christian.

Lindsey Simcik: I know. Literally, literally, she's, my religion is, sorry mom, don't be mad at me. Yeah, 

Hala Taha: yeah. This is so fun, guys. Thank you guys so much for joining us. Thank you. You did such a great job. Thanks guys. Thank you. Thank you. Bye guys. Bye. [01:13:00] Well, yap gang, we're closing out today's episode with so much to reflect on. Thanks to Krista and Lindsay. We talked a lot about that special kind of transformation that happens when you stop waiting to be chosen and start building a future on purpose. For many of us, that pivot happens when we're in our late twenties or early thirties.

That's when, for example, I decided to shut down my blog, get an MBA, enter the corporate world, and get more serious about achieving the future that I really wanted. As Krista pointed out, it's not just an emotional shift that happens during those years. It's actually biological. It's our fully developed prefrontal cortex, making us more strategic, intentional, and future focused.

But it still takes a lot of courage to pivot, to stop waiting, to be chosen, and instead choose yourself. Lindsay's story about leaving acting to pursue podcasting full time reminded us that the most important question isn't what you do, but how you wanna feel doing it. For her, the answer was simple. I wanted to create.

[01:14:00] Striking out on your own takes time though, and it can be a rough ride. Like Krista said, being an entrepreneur or running a business can look sexy from the outside. But getting started will probably be the hardest thing you ever do in your life. Entrepreneurship isn't glamorous. It's hard, humbling, and deeply personal, but when your idea is rooted in purpose and your why, when you feel that something is missing from the world and you just have to create it, that's when you're ready to get started.

So whatever age you are right now, if you're in that in-between space, between identities and careers, let this episode be a reminder. You don't have to have it all figured out. You do have to listen for that internal pull and when it comes, be ready to follow it.

Thanks for listening to this episode of Young and Profiting. If you learn something today and if you felt seen or inspired, share this episode with somebody who needs to hear it. And don't forget to leave us a five star review on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you listen to the show. Your reviews help us reach more listeners who are ready to profit from powerful conversations like this [01:15:00] one.

If you wanna check us out on YouTube and watch our episodes on video, all of our episodes are on YouTube. Just search Young In Profiting. You can also connect with me on Instagram at EF with Hala or LinkedIn. Just search for my name. It's Hala Taha. And my YAP team is absolutely amazing. I cannot go an episode without thanking them.

So thank you guys for all your hard work and dedication. It really shows. This is your host, Hala Taha, AKA, the podcast princess signing off.