Voted Least Likely

I asked AI to be BRUTALLY HONEST (and it didn’t hold back)

In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I am sharing something I did that was uncomfortable — I asked AI to point out my blind spots in my business and my life.
And what came back?It hit on things I already knew… but maybe wasn’t fully ready to admit. It also surprised me with an unexpected point of view.
"We" talked about:
- The pattern of jumping from one opportunity to the next- The difference between momentum and distraction- Where I might be playing small (even when it looks like I’m doing a lot)- And the uncomfortable truth about focus, consistency, and long-term growthIf you’ve been feeling like you need to re-evaluate where you are, or where you are headed (and you’re willing to take feedback in unexpected places), this episode is for you.
Let’s Connect
If this episode resonated with you, I’d love to hear your biggest takeaway.Send me a message or share this episode with someone who might need it.
Subscribe & Review
If you’re enjoying Voted Least Likely, don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find the show 💗Connect with the Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
 

Why I started saying NO to customers

When you’re building a business, it can feel like you have to say YES to every opportunity and every customer. Especially in the beginning, when every sale feels important.But what happens when someone repeatedly pushes your boundaries? When a customer takes advantage of your generosity, your time, or your policies?In this episode, I'm talking about one of the harder lessons I learned about running a business: learning that not everyone is meant to be part of the community you’re building.This conversation explores the discomfort of setting boundaries with customers, why it’s so difficult to do early on, and how protecting your energy and your brand is sometimes more important than making a sale.
Because the truth is — saying no isn’t about exclusion.It’s about creating a business and a community that are healthy, respectful, and sustainable.
In this episode:- Why it feels so hard to say no to customers early in business- Recognizing when someone is taking advantage of your generosity- The difference between good customer service and sacrificing your boundaries- How saying no protects your energy and your brand- Building a community that aligns with your valuesThis episode is a reminder to think about the big picture. You're building something for the long haul, make sure you carefully curate who's coming with you.Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard

Building BEFORE You’re Ready with Sarah D’Arcy

In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I’m joined by celebrity stylist Sarah D’Arcy for a conversation about building something of your own — even when you don’t feel fully ready.
Sarah shares how she grew her styling business while still working a corporate job, navigating uncertainty, and the quiet belief that something bigger was possible. What struck me most in this conversation is how much of entrepreneurship is built in the in-between seasons.
We talk about:
- Building your business alongside a full-time job- The mentors who shaped Sarah’s early career — and why encouragement at the right time changes everything- Why you never truly feel “ready” to leap into entrepreneurship- The uncertainty that comes with betting on yourself- Staying humble and grounded as the landscape of business changes
Sarah speaks candidly about the self-doubt, the pivots, and the discipline required to create longevity — not just visibility. This conversation is a reminder that success is rarely loud in the beginning. It’s often built quietly, in small rooms, before anyone else sees it.
If you’re in the middle of building something — while juggling work, responsibilities, or fear — this episode will resonate deeply.
As always, thank you for being here.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard

I Worked 341 Hours in 31 Days (here's what surprised me)

In this solo episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on what happened during one of the most intense months I’ve had in business.
For 31 days, I ran a full-time pop-up space while managing my jewelry brand behind the scenes — production, emails, marketing, customer service — and continuing to host this podcast.
Here's the calculation:
341 hours worked in 31 days.
This episode isn’t about glorifying burnout. It’s about what I learned when I stopped assuming I was already at capacity.
Here’s what shifted for me:
-Why we’re often capable of far more than we believe
-The difference between keeping your standards vs. lowering your expectations
-How I protected my non-negotiables (like movement and health) while adjusting how they showed up
-The surprising realization that I could still do MORE
One example: I kept the standard that I would exercise five days a week. That didn’t change. What changed was the expectation that every workout had to be long or perfect. Some were only 10 minutes. Some were simple. But the standard remained.
That distinction changed everything.
This month challenged my ideas about capacity, discipline, and what I’m building toward. It also forced me to confront what “too much” really means.
If you’ve ever felt stretched, ambitious, overwhelmed, or curious about your own edge — this one’s for you.Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard

3 Controversial Beliefs I Have (That Help Me Grow My Business)

Not all growth advice is comfortable.
Some of the beliefs that have helped me the most are the ones people push back on the hardest.
In this solo episode of Voted Least Likely, I share three deeply held — and often controversial — beliefs that have shaped how I run my business, show up in difficult moments, and keep moving forward when things don’t go as planned.
These aren’t polished motivational soundbites. They’re practical, uncomfortable mindsets that helped me move out of victim thinking, stay grounded in uncertainty, and learn from places I didn’t expect.
This episode isn’t about telling you what to believe — it’s about offering perspectives you can sit with, challenge, take pieces from, or leave behind.
In this episode, I talk about:
1. “Everything is my fault”
- Why taking full responsibility gives you control — not shame- How a victim mindset can feel comforting but keep you stuck- The difference between blame and ownership- A story from an early holiday market that completely changed how I show up- Why your behaviour matters more than the circumstancesHow responsibility creates momentum, even in bad situations
2. “I am not entitled to success”
- The uncertainty of building a business and why it never guarantees a happy ending- The sacrifices that come with entrepreneurship — time, relationships, rest- Why hard work increases your chances, but doesn’t make success inevitable- Starting my jewellery brand assuming I would fail — and why that mattered- How not feeling “owed” success helps me stay grounded and presentWhy enjoying the journey matters when outcomes aren’t promised
3. “You don’t have to like your mentors”
- Why you don’t need to agree with everything someone believes to learn from them- Taking what works and leaving the rest- Moving away from all-or-nothing thinking- Learning from people with different values, politics, or perspectives- Why nuance and independent thinking are critical for growth- Resisting cancel culture as a default approach to learning
Key themes in this episode:
- Personal responsibility vs. self-punishment- Growth through discomfort- Entrepreneurship without entitlement- Mindset shifts for long-term business building- Learning discernment instead of idolization- Letting go of the need to be liked or universally agreed with
This episode isn’t for everyone — and that’s okay. These beliefs are controversial because they challenge comfort, certainty, and consensus.
My hope is that hearing them helps you feel less alone, sparks a new way of thinking, or gives you permission to question the beliefs you’ve been holding onto — especially the ones that might be holding you back.
Take what resonates.Leave what doesn’t.And focus on the beliefs that help you become your best version.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard

Building a Business That FITS Your Life with Lauren Tilden

What does it really take to build a small business, especially when your brain doesn’t fit the traditional mold?
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I am sitting down with entrepreneur, marketer, and podcast host, Lauren Tilden for an honest conversation about the behind-the-scenes challenges of running a business, navigating late ADHD diagnosis, and learning how to work with your brain instead of against it.
Lauren shares her journey of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, how it reshaped the way she approaches her work, and the systems she’s put in place to support herself as a business owner.
Together,  we dive into why clarity-- around the life you want and the business you’re building-- is one of the most important (and often overlooked) foundations of long-term success.
This episode is a reminder that there’s no one “right” way to build a business—and that success looks different when you define it on your own terms.
In This Episode, We Talk About:
-The realities and growing pains of building a small business
-Lauren’s ADHD diagnosis and how it changed her relationship with work
-Why clarity around your desired lifestyle matters just as much as revenue goals
-Designing a business that supports your energy, values, and season of life
-Letting go of expectations and building sustainably
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by entrepreneurship or wondered why traditional productivity advice doesn't seem to work, this episode is for you.Learn more about Lauren Tilden here: https://www.makinggoodpodcast.comDoing the Dang Thing Workshop: https://www.laurentilden.co/dtdt-workshopFollow Lauren on IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurentildenConnect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard
 

You Don’t Have to “Fit Into” Your Industry

What if the parts of your story that feel out of place are actually the reason you’re meant to do the work you’re doing?
In this episode of Voted Least Likely, I share the parts of my life that don’t match the assumptions people make about me as a jewellery designer — and how learning to stop hiding them changed everything.
For years, I believed I had to smooth out my story to be taken seriously. I felt embarrassed about my background, my lack of formal education, my mental health struggles, and the ways I didn’t “fit” the image of my industry. I thought these things disqualified me.
They didn’t. They shaped me.
This episode is an honest walk through the truths I used to keep quiet — and why embracing them has helped me build a brand, a community, and a life that actually feels like mine.
In this episode, I talk about:
Why you don’t need to fit into your industry to succeed
Being an extreme introvert in a very public-facing business
How protecting your energy isn’t selfish — it’s necessary
Dropping out of junior high and building a career without formal education
Letting go of shame around “unglamorous” career paths
How years of entry-level jobs became one of my greatest educations
What it’s like to build a brand without family support
Choosing your life, even when others don’t understand it
How community can grow out of loneliness
Growing up on a lighthouse island — and how it shaped my creativity
Feeling behind socially, emotionally, and professionally
Mental health struggles at a young age and learning their impact later in life
Why versatility, function, and intuition drive my design process
Not traveling, making sacrifices, and trusting long-term timing
Letting go of the need to fit in — and choosing to grow instead
Key takeaways:
You don’t need a polished or traditional story to be worthy of success
Your differences are not liabilities — they’re connection points
Confidence comes from acceptance, not approval
It’s okay if your version of success doesn’t look like anyone else’s
You’re allowed to build a life that makes sense to you
This episode is for anyone who has ever felt out of place, behind, unqualified, or “too different” to belong — and wondered if that meant they were doing something wrong.
You’re not.
Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop trying to fit in, and start becoming more yourself.Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard

My Biggest Failures of 2025

One more episode about 2025 and then I'll move on...There's a lot of talk about success online, but we don’t spend nearly enough time talking about what didn’t work.
In this episode, I’m doing an honest reflection on my failures from 2025. The missed goals. The wrong decisions. The moments that felt heavy, heartbreaking, and disappointing.
This isn’t a highlight reel or a “failure turned success” story. It’s a real conversation about what happens when things don’t go according to plan. — and why those moments often shape us more than the wins ever could.
I share what failed and what those experiences taught me about boundaries, expectations, resilience, and trusting myself. Some lessons were obvious in hindsight. Others took months to land.I'm also diving into some of the emotions I felt last year as I watched everyone celebrate their milestones on social media. 
If you’ve had a year that didn’t unfold the way you hoped, this episode is for you.
Failure doesn’t mean you’re behind. It means you're brave enough to try.Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard

Planning a New Year (That Actually Fits Your Life)

The start of a new year can feel full of pressure — new goals, new habits, new versions of ourselves we’re supposed to magically become overnight.
In this episode, I’m inviting you behind the scenes of my annual planning session — not the polished version, but the honest one.
I walk through the goals I set last year, what actually worked, what didn’t, and the expectations I had to let go of along the way. Some things surprised me. Some things stung. And some things only made sense once I slowed down enough to really look at them.
This episode isn’t about hustle or rigid goal-setting. It’s about reflection, recalibration, and choosing a direction that actually feels aligned with the life you’re living — not the one you think you should be living.
I also guide you step-by-step through a simple planning process you can do alongside me — whether you’re mapping out a business, a creative practice, or just trying to move into the new year with a bit more clarity and intention.
If you’ve ever felt behind, unsure, or quietly disappointed with how a year unfolded — this conversation is for you.
In this episode, we talk about:
Reviewing last year’s goals with honesty (not shame)
What I achieved — and what I didn’t
Why some goals quietly stop fitting
Separating meaningful progress from performative productivity 
Letting go of goals that no longer serve you
How I approach planning in a way that feels sustainable
A gentle framework you can use to plan your year
Setting intentions that leave room for real life
This episode is your permission slip to plan slowly, thoughtfully, and on your own terms.
Take what resonates. Leave the rest. And remember — you’re allowed to evolve.
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyard

Happy Holidays (and congratulations on making it through a difficult year)

Happy Holidays!Like many of you, this year was a rollercoaster. I experienced some of my best and worst days in the last 12 months. I will be taking the next two weeks to process everything we went through by focusing on the glimmers of joy, and finding the lessons in the chaos.As always, I want to thank YOU for tuning in to the Voted Least Likely podcast this year, leaving 5 star reviews, or recommending the show to a friend. It means more than you know. Happy Holidays, talk soon in 2026✨
Connect with the Voted Least Likely Podcast:www.leahyard.comIG: @leahyardTikTok: @leahyardKnow someone who would make a great guest on the show? Find the application form here.