Point Of The Story

Madison Dearly, a bookkeeper and S-Corp specialist (and former Miss New Mexico), walks through bookkeeping basics with humor. She covers what counts as a real business expense, why S-Corps are trickier than they seem, and quick baby steps to tidy books. Expect stories, tax reality checks, and practical tips to make finances less scary.

Braden Adam Drake, attorney and founder of Not Avg Law who helps small business owners with legal and tax compliance. He talks about separating business and personal finances, avoiding the “oh shit” cycle of back taxes, correctly classifying team members, automating tax savings, and protecting your brand with trademarks, insurance, and solid contracts.

Tori Sprankel, a brand and website designer known for elevating "cool moms" and founder of Eldest Daughter Studio, shares her insights on personal branding. She challenges the notion that businesses need logos, emphasizing the power of consistent visual identity instead. Tori discusses essential branding elements for social media and the concept of micro-storytelling to connect with audiences. They dive into the importance of Instagram-first strategies and how simplicity can enhance brand presence.

Jillian Minter, a money manifestation coach who helps people shift limiting money beliefs, explains how daily energy and tiny habits shape financial outcomes. She breaks down micro-negativity that sabotages you. Short practices like journaling, EFT tapping, gratitude, clearing space, and starting small build belief. Conversations cover acting as if, making space to receive, and aligning action with intention.

Vix Meldrew, community-builder and mastermind leader who scaled Sales Spice and VOLUME while working part-time. She explains why being unabashedly yourself and sharing tiny personal details builds real community. They cover how to build in public, why top-of-funnel visibility matters, when to ditch ChatGPT for original voice, and practical steps to make your personality the marketing.

Emilie Nutley, a finance coach for women who makes money management feel approachable, shares playful and practical money talk. She explains simple systems like a three-card spending method and using a small “breathing” fund. Expect candid takes on budgeting, why rigid emergency rules can backfire, and how to plan business cash flow without overwhelm.

I'm about to become a walking advertisement for a face mist, and I'm not even sorry about it.In this episode, which is literally the longest I've ever uploaded, I sit down with my friend Sabah, founder of Calling Beauty. I helped name this brand YEARS ago and wrote the copy that's literally on the Face Fog bottle right now. (It's the best face mist on the market and I will die on this hill.)We're talking about the unglamorous stuff nobody tells you about building a physical product business — supply chains, Brexit drama, why free shipping isn't actually free, and how to get from lab samples to someone's bathroom shelf. Plus the glamorous stuff like PR boxes that stop industry execs in their tracks and cold-emailing Taylor Swift's makeup artist.TOPICS & TANGENTS— The boost folder every founder needs (and why you should steal this idea)— The 70+ phone calls that built an entire brand strategy— Dating advice that made my editor Adrienne say I need a dating podcast— Why Sabah needs to start a podcast immediately— Why men steal Face Fog for football practice— Why we're never shutting the fuck up about astrology chartsPOINT OF THE STORYYou can't micromanage your way to success. Whether you're building a beauty empire or just trying to figure out your life, the magic happens when you show up consistently but stay flexible enough to let things unfold the way they're meant to.GIVEAWAYWant a free order of bean water on me? Tag me @btlcopy and Sabah @sabahyaqoob on your Instagram story while you’re listening, and one lucky winner will get TWO caffeine fixes on me!AND — count how many times we drop the F-bomb in this episode. DM me the number, and you could win a prize!Love you, mean it. 🖤SABAH LINKS— Follow Sabah and Calling Beauty on Instagram— Follow her on Tiktok too— Check out her website— Her community for Muslim women navigating dating and marriage— Her product that Sara is absolutely obsessed with— Sabah’s walkout songBTL LINKS— Use code "MILLIONAIRE" for $100 off my website copywriting course, Site Series Sprint.— Join the Point of the Story community on Slack.— Leave feedback or episode requests in our Suggestions Box.— To stay up to date with all things Point of the Story, follow on Instagram and Substack.— Follow me on Instagram, Threads, and Substack.— Subscribe to my newsletters Tuesday Table of Contents for one marketing tip, once a week and Millionaire Moment for the insider tea on how I plan to make $1 mil in sales by my 31st birthday.— Check out my website betweenthelinescopy.com.OTHER LINKS— Podcast episode: What Even Is A Quantum Leap? with Kaitlyn Kessler— Newsletter: TOC #119: So, We Got Tattoos Together— Cosmetic Executive WomenTIMESTAMPS00:00 Intro00:24 Meet Sabah, Founder of Calling Beauty04:18 Rapid-Fire Squirrel Brain Questions19:21 How to Cold Email Taylor Swift's Makeup Artist24:16 Sara's Obsession with Face Fog28:19 Makeup, Body Image, and Self-Love37:57 The Only Origin Story You'll Hear on This Podcast49:23 The 70 Phone Calls That Built a Brand58:44 The Unglamarous Side of Creating a Beauty Product01:05:09 Even Men Love Face Fog01:09:08 Fulfillment Centers, Brexit, and Shipping Costs01:17:31 The Role of PR in Brand Visibility01:21:33 Sabah's Long-Term Goals01:29:08 The Moment This Became a Dating Podcast01:39:56 ClosingThis episode was edited by Adrienne Cruz. Mentioned in this episode:For $31/mo, get FIVE personal story prompts a month for your newsletter! Sara's Swipe File: A Newsletter Storytelling Subscription

Matt Ward, a registered financial planner who helps retirees and small-business owners, breaks down practical money steps for non-wealthy folks. He covers cash reserves, emergency funds, SEP IRA vs solo 401(k), pre-tax vs Roth tradeoffs, protection planning, and how to start saving when you hate budgeting. Short, blunt, and actionable conversation that makes planning feel doable.

Join Shannon Vondy, a seasoned email marketer with 15 years in the game, as she demystifies email marketing. She explains why list cleaning is crucial, how open rates are less of a dealbreaker than you think, and shares her unique take on subject lines. Expect anecdotes about unexpected replies, the importance of consistency, and how to treat unsubscribes as opportunities, not disasters. Don't overthink your email strategy—let Shannon's insights guide you toward making email a vibrant part of your business!

Katie Creative Co, a social media strategist and playlist-maker with a master’s in social media, chats about making platforms feel like conversations. She argues there is no secret formula. She explains community-first approaches, how to research an audience when you have none, and why listening beats endless posting. Expect playful takes on personality-driven strategy and using tiny, human details to connect.