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Tax and Money Education for Creative People, Freelancers and Solopreneurs
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Amelia Hruby: How to Build a Successful Business Without Social Media
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This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by Amelia Hruby, feminist writer and host of the Off the Grid podcast, for a conversation about building a successful business without relying on social media.
Amelia shares her personal journey away from social media dependence and explains how she created a sustainable, relationship-centered business through community, creativity, email marketing, and intentional audience growth outside the attention economy.
“The idea that you have to be on social media to have a successful business is provably false.”
This week on the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by Amelia Hruby, feminist writer and host of the Off the Grid podcast, for a conversation about building a successful business without relying on social media.
Amelia shares her personal journey away from social media dependence and explains how she created a sustainable, relationship-centered business through community, creativity, email marketing, and intentional audience growth outside the attention economy.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:10 Introduction to Amelia Hruby
01:24 Journey to Feminist Podcasting and Authorship
03:40 Personal Experience with Social Media
07:26 Navigating Business Without Social Media
10:17 Building Relationships Beyond Algorithms
18:24 Reframing Attention: From Scarcity to Ecology
25:29 The Art of Noticing and Attention
27:57 The Impact of Social Media on Creativity
30:30 Navigating the Challenges of Social Media
34:35 Reclaiming Attention and Relationships
38:32 Deciding to Leave Social Media
44:49 Finding Connection Beyond Social Media
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
“Leaving social media doesn’t mean you stop marketing, it just means you do other things and figure out what works for you.”
About Amelia Hruby:
Amelia Hrubyis a feminist writer and podcaster with a PhD in philosophy from DePaul University. Over the past decade, she’s been a university professor, a community organizer, and a radio DJ. Now, she is the founder and executive producer of Softer Sounds, a podcast studio that supports women and nonbinary small business owners.
Since leaving social media in April 2021, she’s also launched the popular podcastOff the Grid, where she interviews artists, writers, business leaders and former influencers. Amelia is a platform critic, an AI skeptic, and an advocate for a non-extractive internet. Her new book, Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Mediais out now.
Check out Amelia’s work:
Download Amelia’s FREE Leaving Social Media Toolkit
Get Amelia’s Book: Your Attention is Sacred Except on Social Media Use code SUNLIGHT for $5 off the book (paperback, ebook, or audiobook version)
Episode Links:
Get my Tax Help onSubstack.
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
Shari Rash on Money Mindset, Debt Strategy, and Building Wealth Without Shame
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, financial advisor Shari Rash shares how her journey into finance shaped her mission to help women build wealth with clarity and confidence.
We dive into common money challenges like decision paralysis and conflicting advice, and how to move forward without overwhelm. Shari outlines a simple order of operations for managing your finances so you can focus on what actually matters and make aligned decisions.
You’ll also learn practical strategies for investing, managing debt, and building long-term financial stability, plus a fresh take on outdated financial advice that no longer works in today’s world.
“Not making a decision is a decision.”
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, financial advisor Shari Rash shares how her journey into finance shaped her mission to help women build wealth with clarity and confidence.
We dive into common money challenges like decision paralysis and conflicting advice, and how to move forward without overwhelm. Shari outlines a simple order of operations for managing your finances so you can focus on what actually matters and make aligned decisions.
You’ll also learn practical strategies for investing, managing debt, and building long-term financial stability, plus a fresh take on outdated financial advice that no longer works in today’s world.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:00 Introduction to Shari Rash and Her Journey
02:38 Understanding Client Needs and Decision Paralysis
09:09 Order of Operations in Financial Management
14:24 Tips for Long-Term Financial Health
17:07 Outdated Financial Advice and Modern Strategies
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences:
“Money is very forgiving… not doing anything is worse than doing something imperfectly.”
About Shari Rash:
Shari Rash is a nationally recognized financial advisor, money mindset expert, and the host of Everyone's Talkin' Money—named a Top 4 money podcast by The New York Times, with over 24 million downloads. She’s also the founder of GWA Wealth, a virtual advisory firm helping women navigate money with confidence, clarity, and zero shame.
With 18 years of experience and a no-nonsense style, Shari breaks down complex financial topics into real-life conversations that empower women to own their worth and build lasting wealth. She’s been named a 2024 Best Wealth Manager and Advisor Under 40 by InvestmentNews and holds an Advisor For Women Certificate from Willow.
When she’s not talking money, she’s a mom of four, Goldendoodle wrangler, and unapologetic lover of Grandmillennial decor.
Check out Shari’s work:
Everyone's Talkin' Money Podcast
Instagram: @everyonestalkinmoney
Episode Links:
Get my Tax Help onSubstack.
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
takeaways
Not making decisions about money can cause more harm than good.
Money is forgiving; mistakes can be undone.
Focus on diversifying with ETFs instead of picking individual stocks.
Prioritize paying off high-interest debt before investing.
Don't put all your net worth in your home equity or retirement accounts.
Sarah Walton: Growing Up Poor, Undoing Harmful Stories, Empowering Women
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by business coach and sales expert Sarah Walton for a powerful conversation on money, mindset, and meaningful success.
Sarah shares her personal journey from growing up in poverty to building a life and career centered around financial empowerment and abundance. We explore how internal healing and mindset work shape not only our relationship with money, but also how we show up in business and life.
We also talk about the importance of authentic human connection in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, and what it really means to build an ethical, values-led business today.
If you’re interested in money mindset, wealth consciousness, entrepreneurship, emotional healing, and ethical business in the age of AI, this conversation will give you both grounding and perspective.
LISTEN AND SUBSCRIBE HERE
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m joined by business coach and sales expert Sarah Walton for a powerful conversation on money, mindset, and meaningful success.
Sarah shares her personal journey from growing up in poverty to building a life and career centered around financial empowerment and abundance. We explore how internal healing and mindset work shape not only our relationship with money, but also how we show up in business and life.
We also talk about the importance of authentic human connection in an increasingly digital and AI-driven world, and what it really means to build an ethical, values-led business today.
If you’re interested in money mindset, wealth consciousness, entrepreneurship, emotional healing, and ethical business in the age of AI, this conversation will give you both grounding and perspective.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:00 Empowering Women Through Wealth Consciousness
04:44 Personal Journey: From Poverty to Empowerment
10:21 The Impact of Community and Support
12:30 Revisiting Past Experiences for Growth
16:19 Navigating the Current Business Landscape
20:17 The Role of Human Connection in Business
21:07 Returning to Inner Guidance
24:25 The Power of Morning Rituals
28:08 Healing Through Small Decisions
31:19 Navigating Trust in Online Business
33:58 The Importance of Ethical Boundaries
38:39 Harnessing Unique Human Creativity
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
About Sarah Walton:
Sarah Walton is a business coach and sales expert who’s been featured on The Today Show, speaks at women’s conferences all over the world, and has helped hundreds of women start and grow businesses they LOVE. She works with a handful of 1:1 clients, runs The Sales Mastermind, and leads her exclusive Abundance Academy for women in business.
She’s the voice behind the Game On Girlfriend Podcast and the face of “Sarah Uncut” on YouTube - making her the go-to source for no-nonsense business coaching and real-life, mind-blowing abundance.
From growing up in a low-income household with a single mom to helping moms turn their passion into a business they love that can support their families, Sarah’s lived experience shows how women can powerfully change their lives and the lives of their families and communities.
Through her successful coaching business, which she designed to put more money in the hands of more women, Sarah transitioned from being “just another coach” to being a change-maker. It’s time to put more money in the hands of more women, and Sarah is all in.
Check out Sarah’s work:
Episode Links:
Sign up for theSetting Up (or Tuning Up) Your Business Workshop
Get my Tax Help onSubstack.
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
What Makes Your Business “Official?”
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In this episode of the Sunlight Tax podcast, I share how solo business owners can set up or tune up their businesses to create legal protection, stay compliant with taxes, and actually feel at ease. I walk through what makes a business “official” in the eyes of the IRS and break it down in a simple, practical way.
I’m also introducing an upcoming workshop called “Set-up or tune up your business” designed to help you get your business organized and set up the right way.
Listen and Subscribe Here
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax podcast, I share how solo business owners can set up or tune up their businesses to create legal protection, stay compliant with taxes, and actually feel at ease. I walk through what makes a business “official” in the eyes of the IRS and break it down in a simple, practical way.
I’m also introducing an upcoming workshop called “Set-up or tune up your business” designed to help you get your business organized and set up the right way.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:00 Embracing the Human Element in Teaching
03:11 Navigating Business Setup and Legal Essentials
05:48 Understanding Tax Obligations and Business Protections
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Links:
Sign up for theSetting Up (or Tuning Up) Your Business Workshop
Get my Tax Help onSubstack.
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
My Best Tip If You Need to File A Tax Extension
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Your 2025 taxes are due tomorrow, April 15th.
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m sharing simple, practical tips for filing a tax extension, understanding key deadlines, and setting up your business the right way. I’m also announcing some upcoming workshops to help self-employed people better manage their money and get their legal setup in place.
Your 2025 taxes are due tomorrow, April 15th.
In this episode of the Sunlight Tax Podcast, I’m sharing simple, practical tips for filing a tax extension, understanding key deadlines, and setting up your business the right way. I’m also announcing some upcoming workshops to help self-employed people better manage their money and get their legal setup in place.
Also mentioned in today’s episode:
00:00 Navigating Tax Day: Understanding Extensions
07:42 Workshops for Financial Empowerment
If you enjoyed this episode, please rate, review and share it! Every review makes a difference by telling Apple or Spotify to show the Sunlight Tax podcast to new audiences.
Links:
Get my Tax Help on Substack.
Join my Substack Bookkeeping Club
Get your FREE visual guide to tax deductions
Order my book: Taxes for Humans: Simplify Your Taxes and Change the World When You’re Self-Employed
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