In this episode, we dig into the realities of running a relationship-led business in a market that’s no longer in beginner mode. Michelle Warner joins us to talk about what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in a world where quick wins and easy opportunities are drying up, and why now more than ever, the boring stuff—fundamentals, relationships, offers that fit—really matters.We cover how to adapt to a maturing market, where the “growth hacks” of the past aren’t working like they used to. Michelle shares why most client issues aren’t massive strategy problems but small, foundational misalignments—and why fixing them starts with a return to the basics.This is an episode for anyone feeling like what used to work just… doesn’t anymore. And for those ready to stop chasing the next big trick and return to the very unsexy, very effective roots of sustainable business.* Why the market isn’t broken—it’s just finally maturing (and your tactics need to, too)* The real reason your sales aren’t working (hint: it’s not because you’re not posting enough)* The problem with marketing arbitrage plays (Substack, LinkedIn newsletters, bundles—you name it)* Why your offer math might be the real problem behind your revenue plateau* How AI is making everyone sound the same—and how to stand out by being specific* Why the boring fundamentals are the most effective thing you can do right now* What to do instead of panic-posting when leads slow down“That's the key to relationships. The specificity and the “because statements” allow you to also build sticky relationships. So a lot of times when we're networking a, we don't know why we're networking with people, so we end up just meeting people and then trying to force square pegs into round holes, and b. so then you get stuck in these small talk traps.” - Michelle WarnerAbout our GuestMichelle WarnerSequence over Strategy podcastConnect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
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Evidence of Humanity: Showcasing our latest thinking
This week, we're doing something a little different. Instead of our usual dialogue, we’re sharing two short solo segments originally recorded for the Evidence of Humanity audio summit, hosted by Michelle Pontvert. This means we get a break from recording and editing but you still get a fresh episode. While because as Meg says, “Jessica loves a cadence”, taking breaks and thoughtful repurposing of content lets us take breaks and be aggressively human!First, Jessica shares how running free monthly workshops—starting with just four people—has become one of the most grounding, trust-building practices in her business. Not because they’re optimized for conversion, but because they create real-time space to test ideas, teach generously, and build actual relationships.Then, Meg takes the mic to talk about the surprising overlap between SEO strategy and romance novels. Drawing from her writing practice and deep love of story, she maps the early stages of the hero’s journey onto the buyer journey—and shows how thoughtful content meets people where they are, not where your funnel wants them to be.Let us know: do you like some shorter, solo episodes in your feed?We’ll be back next week with more dialogue!Connect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
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"Feminist Rants Are My Superpower": Intersectional Leadership with Becky Mollenkamp
How do we build businesses and community inside a broken system—without replicating that system in our own work?By leading through an intersectional, feminist, and collective lens.In this episode, we talk with Becky Mollenkamp about what it means to build and lead this way: grounded in shared power, mutual care, and collective growth. Becky shares how her work as a coach and podcaster has evolved over the years, why she’s no longer trying to “go it alone,” and how building in community has been the most liberating move of all. We also talk about what it really means to earn money ethically, challenge systems without burning out, and keep showing up (even in the chaos of summer).We also get into the behind-the-scenes of launching multiple podcasts, navigating Substack and social media with ethics intact, and the real tension of building a business when you care deeply about people and want to pay your bills without selling your soul.This is a conversation for anyone trying to build something different in a world that rewards “the one right way to build.”* How Becky’s proximity to the Ferguson uprising catalyzed a shift in her perspective* The real difference between commerce and capitalism (and why most pricing models get this wrong)* What it means to build a business rooted in mutuality, not hierarchy* What the hell to do with Substack, Meta, and other imperfect tools* The behind-the-scenes of stewarding multiple podcasts, and the choice to have a co-host or not* The problem with trying to do it all alone—and how Becky’s moving toward collective action over solo growth* Why podcasting might just be the most human way to have the conversations we actually want to have“Yeah, I can come up with lots of ideas, but they're always richer when it's done in collective with these other women who have different lived experiences than me. And then, yeah, I'll move the ball forward. I love moving the ball forward, but I'm more excited now. I'm moving the ball forward with these ideas that are so much more richer.” - BeckyAbout our GuestBecky MollenkampFeminist Podcasters CollectiveFeminist FoundersMessy LiberationAssigned ReadingMentioned ResourcesTema Okun’s EssaySacred Economics by Charles EisensteinThe Soul of Money by Lynne Twist“The Master’s Tools Will Never Dismantle the Master’s House” — Audre LordeConnect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
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ADHD-ish: Building a business for how your brain is wired with Diann Wingert
Most business advice assumes you're wired like everyone else. What if you're not?In this episode, we sit down with Diann Wingert—former therapist, business coach, and host of the ADHD-ish podcast—to talk about what it really means to build a business that works with your brain, not against it.We unpack the myths around ADHD, how to radically accept your own wiring, and what happens when you finally stop trying to “fix” yourself and start designing systems that fit you.Jessica and Meg share their own neurodiverse workarounds (including why their assistants actually manage them), and Diann breaks down how she flipped her brand, rethought her support systems, and uses tools like Claude.ai as external executive function—not a replacement for her brain, but a co-pilot for organizing all the genius.This one’s for the quirky kids, the not-quite-diagnosed, and anyone who’s ever tried to follow business advice that wasn't designed for their brain. * Why Diann rebranded her podcast and business to center ADHD-ish, not as a niche but as a reality* How radical self-acceptance (not self-awareness) is the real first step to change* The business systems that work because they’re nontraditional (like letting your assistant be the boss)* Why “It depends” is the real ADHD business motto* How tools like Claude and Notion help organize brilliance without replacing your voice* Why standard business advice falls apart when your brain doesn't fit the mold* What Diann learned from neurodivergent-friendly spaces (hello, marching band at a conference) and how to bring that into your own business model* The role of AI in organizing, not empathizing—and why therapy still needs a human touch“Human beings, by and large, are damaged through relationships, abuse, neglect, trauma. Most of the things that bring people to a therapist happened as a result of some failure of human nature. And so the whole transformation of therapy is that it is using the professional use of self. We are harmed by humans. We are healed by humans. It’s one of the most intimate and powerful ways of working. And I loved it.” - DiannAbout Our GuestADHD-ish PodcastMastering Your Entrepreneurial ADHDDiann Wingert’s LinkedIn NewsletterConnect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
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Staying Solo: Staying true to yourself, your values, and your voice with Maggie Patterson
What does it really mean to “stay solo” in a world that won’t stop telling you to scale? That’s the question we explore with Maggie Patterson, whose new book Staying Solo challenges the endless drumbeat of “bigger is better.”In this episode, we dive into Maggie’s journey from agency owner to solo business advocate, the messy parts of writing (and marketing) a book without turning it into a performative launch, and the very real tension between wanting to build a sustainable business—while feeling pressure to do it in a way that exploits your time or other people’s labor. (Thanks, online business influencers).We also talk about typos in print books, sticker packs as marketing tools, and why self-publishing may outperform traditional publishing as a soloist. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a micro-agency owner, or just someone wondering if you have to scale to be legit, Maggie’s perspective offers a breath of fresh air—and a permission slip to do it your way.* Why Staying Solo matters—especially when the default advice is always to “scale”* The tension between running an agency and telling others not to build one* How Maggie’s book journey came out of years of blog posts and a poolside conversation* The ethics of pricing, paying others well, and not replicating exploitative business practices* The weird relief (and panic) of finding typos in a printed book you can’t easily fix* How to stay human while promoting a book (sticker packs, handwritten notes, book tours)* Book marketing vs. book selling—why Maggie chose self-publishing and what surprised her most* The privilege of staying solo—and how to be clear about who you want to serve* Most importantly, the 5 book names for Maggie’s book themed birdhouse.About our GuestMaggie PattersonStaying SoloConnect with UsListen on SpotifyListen on Apple PodcastsConnect with Meg and JessicaMeg CaseboltJessica Lackey This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
About Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations
In a world focused on more: more content, more followers, more marketing, more scale, more noise… we’re facing less trust, less contact, less reach.
We’re drowning in AI-generated slop, being pitch-slapped by “personalized” email funnels that couldn’t be farther from authentic, and struggling to be seen by a pay-to-play algorithm.
It’s never been easier to create and connect more cheaply and at more scale, with less trust and more skepticism.
But for experts and service-based businesses? We’re seeing the pendulum swing back.
The answer isn’t to play by these trends. It’s to be **aggressively human.** aggressivelyhuman.substack.com
Listen to Aggressively Human: Online Business in the Age of AI, Algorithms & Automations, REAL AF with Andy Frisella and many other podcasts from around the world with the radio.net app
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