Starter Girlz Podcast

For founders, entrepreneurs, and anyone rethinking what they buy, “Do We Really Need It?” explores a surprising approach to business: helping customers buy less and choose more carefully. We’re constantly encouraged to buy more—even when we’re trying to live more sustainably. But do we need another product, or could we get more use from what we already own? Jennifer Loehding welcomes Janette Spiezio, founder of Sustainable Haus, a refill and zero-waste store in New Jersey. After 30 years in corporate America, Janette began a new chapter selling homemade laundry detergent and hand-stitched napkins at farmers markets. They discuss conscious consumption, simplifying household products, and earning customer trust through honest recommendations—including telling someone they don’t need a replacement. Janette also shares how she approaches product research, why she bought her store’s building despite her family’s doubts, and what it takes to keep making decisions as a business owner. Subscribe for weekly conversations about entrepreneurship, professional development, personal growth, and building success on your own terms. Tell us in the comments: What’s something you’ve stopped buying because you realized you didn’t need it? About Janette Spiezio Janette Spiezio is the founder of Sustainable Haus, a New Jersey refill and zero-waste store that ships throughout the United States. Following a 30-year corporate career, she built a business focused on helping people reduce waste, simplify everyday purchases, and make more thoughtful choices. Chapters00:00 Buying Less, Living Better00:58 Meet Janette and Sustainable Haus04:48 From Corporate to a Refill Store08:18 The Farmers Market Leap10:30 Downsizing and Buying Less13:12 Fewer Products, More Uses17:39 Building Trust Through Honest Advice24:39 Simple Sustainable Swaps and Money Savers29:06 Caring for Our Shared Home31:05 Why There’s No Quick Fix34:21 Research, Product Decisions, and Founder Challenges39:31 Buying the Building Despite the Doubts42:10 Connecting With Sustainable Haus Connect with Janette Spieziohttps://sustainablehaus.com Connect with Starter Girlz Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they've built, what they've learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life. https://startergirlz.com Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz? Apply here:https://podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

For entrepreneurs and aspiring founders, skincare entrepreneur Sarina Pilaroscia shares how her dad’s struggle with psoriasis led her to build a lab and launch a skincare brand. Watching her father struggle with severe psoriasis led Sarina to research ingredients, approach laboratories, and eventually hire her own chemist. She wasn’t a chemist herself, but she had a clear idea of what she wanted to create. Jennifer Loehding sits down with Sarina Pilaroscia, founder and CEO of Phoilex, to explore the journey from a family need to a self-funded skincare brand that launched online with Ulta Beauty. They discuss developing products from scratch, funding research, navigating regulatory delays, and finding the right customers. Sarina also shares her perspective on natural versus scientifically formulated ingredients, what persistence taught her, and why she’s learning to stop starting new things and focus. Chapters 00:00 Doctor Dismisses Psoriasis01:07 Meet Sarina and Phoilex01:36 Small Talk and Setup02:42 Dad’s Psoriasis Story05:39 Inside Out Healing Approach08:32 Topical Steroid Withdrawal12:43 Holistic Meets Western Care17:48 Phoilex Products Overview19:00 Building the Brand From Scratch23:33 Funding and Regulatory Hurdles25:17 Building Through COVID26:09 Cross-Border CBD Rules27:37 Plant Meets Science28:51 Stevia Sensitivity Story31:01 Free-From Reality Check34:13 ChatGPT For Research35:12 Entrepreneur Lessons Learned37:47 Ulta Launch And Vision40:53 Advice To New Founders43:34 Avoiding Burnout45:34 Where To Find Phoilex46:36 Final Wrap And Call To Action Connect with Sarina Pilaroscia Website: https://phoilex.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoilex.releaf/ Connect with Starter Girlz Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they've built, what they've learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life. https://startergirlz.com Want to be a guest on Starter Girlz? https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

For founders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders, this conversation explores how nearly dying changed what it means to be alive—and what that means for personal growth and success. Career success can become part of your identity while creativity, happiness, and personal ambitions get pushed aside. What changes when you stop waiting for permission to pursue what matters to you? In this episode of the Starter Girlz Podcast, Jennifer Loehding sits down with Tracy-Ann Palmer, known as TAP the Warrior—a singer-songwriter, global technology executive, and advocate—to explore how surviving domestic violence changed her perspective on being alive. From childhood loss and immigration to an accomplished corporate career and returning to music at 53, Tracy-Ann shares the experiences behind her evolving definition of success. The conversation explores reinvention, supportive relationships, people pleasing, setting boundaries, and reconnecting with the parts of yourself you’ve put away. Subscribe for weekly conversations about entrepreneurship, professional development, personal growth, and building success on your own terms. Then tell us in the comments: What have you been putting off that would make you feel more alive? About Tracy-Ann Palmer Tracy-Ann Palmer, known as TAP the Warrior, is a singer-songwriter, recording artist, global technology executive, and advocate helping women overcome trauma and reclaim their voices. A twice immigrant born in Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, she built a 25-year corporate career before returning to her lifelong love of music at 53. Through her music and work with women, she encourages others to feel seen and explore what is possible for their lives. Chapters 00:00 Near Death Wake Up Call00:52 Welcome and Guest Intro01:43 No Script Real Talk05:00 Tracy Ann Origin Story07:53 Music Roots and Comeback11:35 Bucket List Studio Leap13:36 Husband as Creative Partner18:22 Reinvention and Creator Mindset25:16 Finding Joy Through Creativity33:49 Tap the Warrior Backstory36:08 Surviving Domestic Violence37:44 Finding Courage to Leave38:13 Warrior Spirit and Empathy39:25 Sawubona and Giving Back41:32 New Lease on Life45:19 Happiness and Core Values47:29 Intuition and Boundaries51:32 From Victim to Seeker57:34 The Power of the Pause01:00:41 Music Album and LA Trip01:04:16 Defining Success Today01:07:00 Where to Find Tap01:07:53 Final Thanks and Sign-Off Connect with Tracy-Ann Palmer https://tapthewarrior.comFind her music on Spotify and Apple Music under TAP.Find her on Instagram as TAP the Warrior. Connect with Starter Girlz Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they've built, what they've learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life. https://startergirlz.com Want to Be a Guest on Starter Girlz? Apply here:https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

For founders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders, rethinking the clothes we buy connects sustainable fashion with a bigger question: how can a business make everyday life better while reducing waste? A full closet doesn’t always make a style decision easier. Wardrobe organization can help us see what we own, discover outfit combinations, and use our clothes longer. But textile waste also raises questions about what our clothes are made from—and what happens after we stop wearing them. Jennifer Loehding sits down with Lacey Cadieux-McLean, Founder & CEO of Rhubaia Ventures, to explore her sustainable clothing line and AI-powered clothing app. Drawing on her background in IT project management and creative design, Lacey is connecting personal style, confidence, and environmental responsibility. They discuss sustainable fashion, synthetic fabrics, clothing waste, virtual try-on technology, and how decision fatigue affects getting dressed. Lacey also shares the entrepreneurial lessons behind her work: learning from mistakes, seeking mentorship, and staying committed as a business grows. Chapters 00:00 Why We Need to Rethink the Clothes We Buy00:51 Meet Lacey Cadieux-McLean02:16 From Ranch Life to Fashion Technology04:04 Building Rhubaia’s Clothing Line and App06:41 Sharing and Organizing Your Virtual Closet09:18 Decision Fatigue and AI Virtual Try-On11:37 Textile Waste and Synthetic Fabrics13:59 Discussing Microplastics and Health16:00 Rethinking Everyday Choices25:09 Personal Style and Confidence30:29 The Future of AI Wardrobes33:39 Training AI to Your Style35:39 Lessons from Building a Business42:07 Grit Through the Messy Middle47:47 Where to Find Rhubaia48:48 The Story Behind the Name Connect with Lacey Cadieux-McLean Website: https://rhubaia.comFind Rhubaia on social media. Connect with Starter Girlz Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they've built, what they've learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life. https://startergirlz.com Want to be a guest on Starter Girlz? https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b

For founders and entrepreneurs, The Two Warriors Within explores leadership, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. TJ Baird, the Warrior Dad, asks: Which One Are You Feeding? Drawing on 32 years of military leadership, TJ examines how anger, self-awareness, and your actions affect the people you lead. His philosophy connects the battles within us to the trust we build—or damage—in our businesses and relationships. When social media shows only the finished success story, struggle can feel like evidence that you’re falling behind. This conversation explores why sharing the unfinished journey matters, and why leadership requires honesty about your own challenges. Jennifer Loehding sits down with retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major TJ Baird, founder of Warrior Dad Stories, to explore the philosophy behind “the two warriors within.” His 32-year military career and a pivotal conversation with his daughter give that philosophy a personal foundation. They discuss why actions must match words, how presence builds trust, and why leadership is a human business. TJ shares his four principles for life and leadership, the lessons behind his storytelling platform, and how he uses strategic planning and AI to support his business. Chapters 00:00 The two warriors within00:43 Meet TJ Baird, the Warrior Dad03:08 Which warrior are you feeding?04:20 His daughter’s wake-up call06:24 From military experiences to Warrior Dad Stories09:40 The struggle behind the success story14:27 Planning, execution, and adapting in business16:31 Using AI as a business tool18:58 The AI challenge for authors and creators24:23 Do your actions match your words?25:23 Four principles for life and leadership28:43 Leadership is a human business31:39 The human side of military leadership35:06 Complex problems need more than logical solutions39:07 Inside Warrior Dad Stories41:28 Why storytelling connects people45:55 Finding the courage to tell your story Connect with TJ Baird Website: https://warriordadstories.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@warriordadstories Connect with Starter Girlz Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they've built, what they've learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life. https://startergirlz.com Want to be a guest on Starter Girlz? https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b